ELMAR MAMMADYAROV: PROGRESS IN THE NAGORNO KARABAKH NEGOTIATIONS DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH ARMENIA WANTS TO CHANGE THE STATUS QUO
MilAz.info
Dec 7 2011
Azerbaijan
"The threats to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan
must be assessed not only in terms of security of Azerbaijan and
South Caucasus, but also in much broader scale - in terms of Europe's
security, stability and development"
"Azerbaijan plays a decisive role in the future of the South
Caucasus, because our country is one the states making considerable
contribution to the energy security of Europe. We are working on
a lot of transregional projects and expect that the threats to the
territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country will be assessed
not only in terms of security of Azerbaijan and South Caucasus,
but also in much broader scale - in terms of Europe's security,
stability and development," Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov said at the 18th Meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council,
APA's correspondent reports from Vilnius.
Foreign Minister said Nagorno Karabakh conflict is a great threat to
the development of the entire region.
"The peace process is on a very important stage. Maintenance of the
status quo is a serious threat to the security in the region. The
co-chair countries several times underlined the inadmissibility of the
status quo. The recent proposals concerning the update of the Madrid
principles prepared by the three co-chair countries were presented to
the sides and Azerbaijan expressed readiness to continue the dialogue
to start working on the comprehensive agreement. Unfortunately,
Armenia rejected these proposals. Progress in the negotiations depends
on how much Armenia wants to change the status quo with the view of
achieving lasting peace," he said.
Elmar Mammadyarov said one of the major issues is the restoration of
confidence between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
"20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory has been occupied, over one
million people have become refugees and internally displaced people.
Direct contacts and meetings between the representatives of Azerbaijani
and Armenian communities of Nagorno Karabakh can change the atmosphere
in this confrontation," he said.
Foreign Minister said withdrawal of Armenian troops from the occupied
Azerbaijani territories will offer great opportunities for the
development of the region.
"Azerbaijan is ready for necessary compromises basing on the principles
of the international law. Next year 20 years will pass since the start
of the negotiations on the resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict
with mediation of OSCE Minsk Group. Unfortunately, no considerable
progress has been made in the process. The Azerbaijani people still
hope the Armenian people will realize the advantages of the resolution
of the conflict. This will give an impetus to the cooperation and
development in the region," he said.
MilAz.info
Dec 7 2011
Azerbaijan
"The threats to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan
must be assessed not only in terms of security of Azerbaijan and
South Caucasus, but also in much broader scale - in terms of Europe's
security, stability and development"
"Azerbaijan plays a decisive role in the future of the South
Caucasus, because our country is one the states making considerable
contribution to the energy security of Europe. We are working on
a lot of transregional projects and expect that the threats to the
territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country will be assessed
not only in terms of security of Azerbaijan and South Caucasus,
but also in much broader scale - in terms of Europe's security,
stability and development," Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov said at the 18th Meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council,
APA's correspondent reports from Vilnius.
Foreign Minister said Nagorno Karabakh conflict is a great threat to
the development of the entire region.
"The peace process is on a very important stage. Maintenance of the
status quo is a serious threat to the security in the region. The
co-chair countries several times underlined the inadmissibility of the
status quo. The recent proposals concerning the update of the Madrid
principles prepared by the three co-chair countries were presented to
the sides and Azerbaijan expressed readiness to continue the dialogue
to start working on the comprehensive agreement. Unfortunately,
Armenia rejected these proposals. Progress in the negotiations depends
on how much Armenia wants to change the status quo with the view of
achieving lasting peace," he said.
Elmar Mammadyarov said one of the major issues is the restoration of
confidence between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
"20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory has been occupied, over one
million people have become refugees and internally displaced people.
Direct contacts and meetings between the representatives of Azerbaijani
and Armenian communities of Nagorno Karabakh can change the atmosphere
in this confrontation," he said.
Foreign Minister said withdrawal of Armenian troops from the occupied
Azerbaijani territories will offer great opportunities for the
development of the region.
"Azerbaijan is ready for necessary compromises basing on the principles
of the international law. Next year 20 years will pass since the start
of the negotiations on the resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict
with mediation of OSCE Minsk Group. Unfortunately, no considerable
progress has been made in the process. The Azerbaijani people still
hope the Armenian people will realize the advantages of the resolution
of the conflict. This will give an impetus to the cooperation and
development in the region," he said.