FOREIGN MINISTRY: AZERBAIJAN CONSIDERS MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS' JOINT PROPOSALS ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH
Trend
Dec 8 2011
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan is reviewing the proposals of all of the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev told Trend on Thursday, commenting
on the co-chair countries' joint statement issued in Vilnius.
"The position of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries to resolve
the conflict is extremely important - all of three co-chair countries,
but not one of them," he said.
On the occasion of the OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting in Vilnius,
the Heads of Delegation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries
(Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov, Secretary
of State of the United States Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Minister for
European Affairs of France Jean Leonetti) and the Foreign Minister of
Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov and Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward
Nalbandian reaffirmed the importance of reaching a peaceful settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the organization's website reported.
Abdullayev said the conflict is possible to be resolved in this format.
The "Updated Madrid Principles" are an official document presented
to the conflict parties by these three co-chair countries.
"We accept them as the latest official proposal made on behalf of
three co-chair countries, but not one of them," Abdullayev said.
He said the joint statement in Vilnius was also made by the co-chair
countries.
At the 2011 Kazan meeting, Russia made proposals to resolve the
conflict, which were not accepted by Azerbaijan. However, Armenia
insisted on considering the proposals as a basis for further
negotiation.
Armenia with its aggressive position after the presidents' Kazan
meeting, had no reason to do it, since the proposals must be submitted
by all three co-chairs, Abdullayev said.
He said the last statement issued in Vilnius has in common with
previous statements from the ministerial and heads of co-chair
countries, which confirms the inadmissibility of the existing
status quo.
The joint statement issued by OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries
and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict parties, calls for continuing the
negotiating process to resolve the conflict within the MG.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.
The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. -
are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.
Trend
Dec 8 2011
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan is reviewing the proposals of all of the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev told Trend on Thursday, commenting
on the co-chair countries' joint statement issued in Vilnius.
"The position of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries to resolve
the conflict is extremely important - all of three co-chair countries,
but not one of them," he said.
On the occasion of the OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting in Vilnius,
the Heads of Delegation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries
(Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov, Secretary
of State of the United States Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Minister for
European Affairs of France Jean Leonetti) and the Foreign Minister of
Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov and Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward
Nalbandian reaffirmed the importance of reaching a peaceful settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the organization's website reported.
Abdullayev said the conflict is possible to be resolved in this format.
The "Updated Madrid Principles" are an official document presented
to the conflict parties by these three co-chair countries.
"We accept them as the latest official proposal made on behalf of
three co-chair countries, but not one of them," Abdullayev said.
He said the joint statement in Vilnius was also made by the co-chair
countries.
At the 2011 Kazan meeting, Russia made proposals to resolve the
conflict, which were not accepted by Azerbaijan. However, Armenia
insisted on considering the proposals as a basis for further
negotiation.
Armenia with its aggressive position after the presidents' Kazan
meeting, had no reason to do it, since the proposals must be submitted
by all three co-chairs, Abdullayev said.
He said the last statement issued in Vilnius has in common with
previous statements from the ministerial and heads of co-chair
countries, which confirms the inadmissibility of the existing
status quo.
The joint statement issued by OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries
and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict parties, calls for continuing the
negotiating process to resolve the conflict within the MG.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.
The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. -
are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.