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OBAMA CALLS FOR DIRECT AZERBAIJAN-ARMENIA DIALOGUE ON N KARABAKH
ITAR-TASS, Russia
September 9, 2013 Monday 11:05 PM GMT+4
BAKU September 9
- U.S. President Barack Obama said it was the time for new efforts
to restore peace in the area of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the
basis of the compromise reached during the talks.
In his message to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev delivered by
James Warlick, the new U.S. Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, who
is in Baku on an exploratory trip, Obama had offered full support
to Warlick in his mission and said his appointment to this post a
month ago was a strong sign of the U.S. commitment to act towards a
peaceful settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The U.S. president supported Aliyev's intention to use direct
dialogue with Armenia in the coming months, with the assistance of
the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, to break the stalemate in the
Nagorno-Karabakh talks.
Aliyev said earlier that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict could be
resolved only if the territorial integrity of his country was ensured.
"The conflict can be resolved only within the framework of the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. There is no other solution,
and I have no doubts that Azerbaijan will restore its territorial
integrity," the head of state said.
He stressed that Azerbaijan was seeking to solve the issue
"peacefully."
"We hope for a peaceful resolution yet. To this end, the Armenian side
should unconditionally comply with the resolutions of international
organisations, including the U.N. Security Council, free the occupied
territories, and Azerbaijani citizens should return to their homes.
After that peace and stability will come to the region," Aliyev said.
He said the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was the "biggest source of
threat" in the region.
Azerbaijan and its people "will never allow a second Armenian state
to be created on their historical land," he said.
"Nagorno-Karabakh will never get independence. The people who live
in Nagorno-Karabakh now, and the Azeris will certainly return there
should live in autonomy. This is a well known international approach,"
the president said.
He made it clear that Azerbaijan would "never step aside from its
position of principle."
The head of state called for a speedy and fair settlement in Karabakh
on the basis of international law.
Speaking of the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh, he said it was
"a matter of the future."
"We have said many times that we will never agree to any status for
Nagorno-Karabakh outside Azerbaijan, and international law supports
our positions," the president said.
Aliyev urged Armenia to continue peace talks on Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict began on February 22, 1988. On November
29, 1989 direct rule in Nagorno-Karabakh was ended and Azerbaijan
regained control of the region. However later a joint session of the
Armenian parliament and the top legislative body of Nagorno-Karabakh
proclaimed the unification of Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia.
On December 10, 1991, Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh held a referendum,
boycotted by local Azeris, that approved the creation of an independent
state.
The struggle over Nagorno-Karabakh escalated after both Armenia and
Azerbaijan obtained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By
the end of 1993, the conflict had caused thousands of casualties and
created hundreds of thousands of refugees on both sides. An unofficial
ceasefire was reached on May 12, 1994.
As of August, 2008, the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group were
attempting to negotiate a full settlement of the conflict. On August 2,
2008, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan travelled to Moscow for talks with Dmitry Medvedev, who was
Russian president at that time. As a result, the three presidents
signed an agreement that calls for talks on a political settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
ITAR-TASS, Russia
September 9, 2013 Monday 11:05 PM GMT+4
BAKU September 9
- U.S. President Barack Obama said it was the time for new efforts
to restore peace in the area of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the
basis of the compromise reached during the talks.
In his message to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev delivered by
James Warlick, the new U.S. Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, who
is in Baku on an exploratory trip, Obama had offered full support
to Warlick in his mission and said his appointment to this post a
month ago was a strong sign of the U.S. commitment to act towards a
peaceful settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The U.S. president supported Aliyev's intention to use direct
dialogue with Armenia in the coming months, with the assistance of
the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, to break the stalemate in the
Nagorno-Karabakh talks.
Aliyev said earlier that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict could be
resolved only if the territorial integrity of his country was ensured.
"The conflict can be resolved only within the framework of the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. There is no other solution,
and I have no doubts that Azerbaijan will restore its territorial
integrity," the head of state said.
He stressed that Azerbaijan was seeking to solve the issue
"peacefully."
"We hope for a peaceful resolution yet. To this end, the Armenian side
should unconditionally comply with the resolutions of international
organisations, including the U.N. Security Council, free the occupied
territories, and Azerbaijani citizens should return to their homes.
After that peace and stability will come to the region," Aliyev said.
He said the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was the "biggest source of
threat" in the region.
Azerbaijan and its people "will never allow a second Armenian state
to be created on their historical land," he said.
"Nagorno-Karabakh will never get independence. The people who live
in Nagorno-Karabakh now, and the Azeris will certainly return there
should live in autonomy. This is a well known international approach,"
the president said.
He made it clear that Azerbaijan would "never step aside from its
position of principle."
The head of state called for a speedy and fair settlement in Karabakh
on the basis of international law.
Speaking of the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh, he said it was
"a matter of the future."
"We have said many times that we will never agree to any status for
Nagorno-Karabakh outside Azerbaijan, and international law supports
our positions," the president said.
Aliyev urged Armenia to continue peace talks on Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict began on February 22, 1988. On November
29, 1989 direct rule in Nagorno-Karabakh was ended and Azerbaijan
regained control of the region. However later a joint session of the
Armenian parliament and the top legislative body of Nagorno-Karabakh
proclaimed the unification of Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia.
On December 10, 1991, Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh held a referendum,
boycotted by local Azeris, that approved the creation of an independent
state.
The struggle over Nagorno-Karabakh escalated after both Armenia and
Azerbaijan obtained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By
the end of 1993, the conflict had caused thousands of casualties and
created hundreds of thousands of refugees on both sides. An unofficial
ceasefire was reached on May 12, 1994.
As of August, 2008, the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group were
attempting to negotiate a full settlement of the conflict. On August 2,
2008, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan travelled to Moscow for talks with Dmitry Medvedev, who was
Russian president at that time. As a result, the three presidents
signed an agreement that calls for talks on a political settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.