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Interfax, Russia
Dec 25 2012
Karabakh conflict talks entered stagnation in 2012 - Azeri president
BAKU. Dec 25
The year 2012 has been negative from the point of view of efforts
aimed at settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azeri President Ilham
Aliyev said.
"The negotiating process entered a period of stagnation this year. In
our opinion, the main reason is the Armenian side's intention to
cement the existing status quo in the Karabakh conflict," Aliyev told
the Rossiya 24 television station on Monday.
Armenia is unwilling to resolve the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh
because in this case it would have to "de-occupy both Nagorno-Karabakh
and the seven neighboring districts where Armenians never lived and
which the Azeri population was forced to leave," he said.
It is becoming increasingly difficult for Armenia to justify its
occupation of these territories, the president said.
"That is why changing the status quo is a key condition for settling
the conflict," Aliyev said.
The present situation is unacceptable both for Azerbaijan and Armenia, he said.
"If they calculate the mid-term prospect in terms of the balance of
forces in the region, they will see clearly that the situation will
get even more disastrous within the next 5-10 years. If they want the
current population of Nagorno-Karabakh to continue living there in
peace and security, they need to start to withdraw the occupation
forces from the region," the Azeri president said.
Aliyev spoke positively of a statement made by the leaders of the OSCE
Minsk Group member states, who confirmed the unacceptability of the
existing status quo.
"If one hopes to change this status quo, it is necessary to begin
de-occupying the Azeri territories. It will give fresh impetus to the
negotiating process," he said.
Aliyev called on the mediators to play a more proactive role both in
the peace process and security measures.
tm rb
Dec 25 2012
Karabakh conflict talks entered stagnation in 2012 - Azeri president
BAKU. Dec 25
The year 2012 has been negative from the point of view of efforts
aimed at settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azeri President Ilham
Aliyev said.
"The negotiating process entered a period of stagnation this year. In
our opinion, the main reason is the Armenian side's intention to
cement the existing status quo in the Karabakh conflict," Aliyev told
the Rossiya 24 television station on Monday.
Armenia is unwilling to resolve the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh
because in this case it would have to "de-occupy both Nagorno-Karabakh
and the seven neighboring districts where Armenians never lived and
which the Azeri population was forced to leave," he said.
It is becoming increasingly difficult for Armenia to justify its
occupation of these territories, the president said.
"That is why changing the status quo is a key condition for settling
the conflict," Aliyev said.
The present situation is unacceptable both for Azerbaijan and Armenia, he said.
"If they calculate the mid-term prospect in terms of the balance of
forces in the region, they will see clearly that the situation will
get even more disastrous within the next 5-10 years. If they want the
current population of Nagorno-Karabakh to continue living there in
peace and security, they need to start to withdraw the occupation
forces from the region," the Azeri president said.
Aliyev spoke positively of a statement made by the leaders of the OSCE
Minsk Group member states, who confirmed the unacceptability of the
existing status quo.
"If one hopes to change this status quo, it is necessary to begin
de-occupying the Azeri territories. It will give fresh impetus to the
negotiating process," he said.
Aliyev called on the mediators to play a more proactive role both in
the peace process and security measures.
tm rb