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KARABAKH MUST CONSENT TO BASIC PRINCIPLES, SAYS NALBANDIAN
asbarez
Tuesday, June 14th, 2011
Nalbandian during his meeting with Bildt Tuesday
YEREVAN-"It will be impossible to move to the second stage of the
negotiations without Karabakh consent on the basic principles,"
said Armenia's Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian during a joint
press conference Tuesday with his Swedish counterpart Kart Bildt.
Nalbandian was speaking days after a meeting he held with Azeri
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Moscow mediated by their Russian
counterpart Igor Popov ahead of presidential summit on Karabakh
scheduled for later this month in Kazan, Russia.
"I agree with Nagorno-Karabakh Republic President Bako Sahakian that it
will be impossible to move to the second stage of negotiations without
Karabkh's consent on the basis principles. The peace treaty is going
to be worked out in the second stage, and Karabakh's participation
in this stage is a must," said Nalbandian who was responding to a
reporter's question regarding Sahakian telling the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairmen that a final resolution cannot be achieved without the
participation of the Karabakh
"The cornerstone of settlement is right of the people of Nagorno
Karabakh to be the master of its destiny," the Minister added.
Minister Nalbandian reminded that the Foreign Ministries of Armenia
and Azerbaijan issued statements following the meeting in Moscow that
the parties managed to bring positions closer on a number of pivotal
issues. "If the momentum is maintained in Kazan, we'll be able to
register progress," Minister Nalbandian declared.
As for Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov's statement
regarding the deployment of peacekeepers, Edward Nalbandian said:
"The statements of Presidents Obama, Sarkozy and Medvedev issued
in L'Aquilla and Muskoka provide for the deployment of peacekeepers
around Nagorno Karabakh. However, the details of the issue have not
been discussed over the past three years. Therefore, no agreement
could have been reached."
Meanwhile, authorities in Karabakh expressed confidence that it is
still early to speak about a final agreement on the principles. They
said said the current stage of the negotiation process will take
another two to three years, since Azerbaijan benefits from maintaining
of the status quo.
"They understand that the issue cannot be settled without the
participation of the Karabakhi side. The current stage is not the
final one. This is a small step of a long process," explained Karabakh
presidential spokeperson David Babayan.
"The most that can happen in Kazan is a show of good will on some
principles," added Babayan.
"2012 is a unique year for all - the parties, the mediating countries
and the region. Elections are expected in Russia, the United States,
France, Artsakh and Armenia. Therefore, the parties will not be ready
to take any abrupt steps in that period. Even if the parties reach
some agreement in Kazan, it will simply help maintain the status quo
for another two to three years," added Babayan.
"I can't predict what will happen but I do not expect any
breakthrough," said Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Foreign Minister Georgi
Petrosian.
From: Baghdasarian
asbarez
Tuesday, June 14th, 2011
Nalbandian during his meeting with Bildt Tuesday
YEREVAN-"It will be impossible to move to the second stage of the
negotiations without Karabakh consent on the basic principles,"
said Armenia's Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian during a joint
press conference Tuesday with his Swedish counterpart Kart Bildt.
Nalbandian was speaking days after a meeting he held with Azeri
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Moscow mediated by their Russian
counterpart Igor Popov ahead of presidential summit on Karabakh
scheduled for later this month in Kazan, Russia.
"I agree with Nagorno-Karabakh Republic President Bako Sahakian that it
will be impossible to move to the second stage of negotiations without
Karabkh's consent on the basis principles. The peace treaty is going
to be worked out in the second stage, and Karabakh's participation
in this stage is a must," said Nalbandian who was responding to a
reporter's question regarding Sahakian telling the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairmen that a final resolution cannot be achieved without the
participation of the Karabakh
"The cornerstone of settlement is right of the people of Nagorno
Karabakh to be the master of its destiny," the Minister added.
Minister Nalbandian reminded that the Foreign Ministries of Armenia
and Azerbaijan issued statements following the meeting in Moscow that
the parties managed to bring positions closer on a number of pivotal
issues. "If the momentum is maintained in Kazan, we'll be able to
register progress," Minister Nalbandian declared.
As for Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov's statement
regarding the deployment of peacekeepers, Edward Nalbandian said:
"The statements of Presidents Obama, Sarkozy and Medvedev issued
in L'Aquilla and Muskoka provide for the deployment of peacekeepers
around Nagorno Karabakh. However, the details of the issue have not
been discussed over the past three years. Therefore, no agreement
could have been reached."
Meanwhile, authorities in Karabakh expressed confidence that it is
still early to speak about a final agreement on the principles. They
said said the current stage of the negotiation process will take
another two to three years, since Azerbaijan benefits from maintaining
of the status quo.
"They understand that the issue cannot be settled without the
participation of the Karabakhi side. The current stage is not the
final one. This is a small step of a long process," explained Karabakh
presidential spokeperson David Babayan.
"The most that can happen in Kazan is a show of good will on some
principles," added Babayan.
"2012 is a unique year for all - the parties, the mediating countries
and the region. Elections are expected in Russia, the United States,
France, Artsakh and Armenia. Therefore, the parties will not be ready
to take any abrupt steps in that period. Even if the parties reach
some agreement in Kazan, it will simply help maintain the status quo
for another two to three years," added Babayan.
"I can't predict what will happen but I do not expect any
breakthrough," said Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Foreign Minister Georgi
Petrosian.
From: Baghdasarian