Baku urges OSCE to adopt a ‘fair position’ to end Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
By Sara Rajabova
The vice-speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament as well as the head of the Azerbaijani delegation to the OSCE PA, Bahar Muradova has urged the OSCE Minsk Group to adopt a fair position of the Azerbaijani side in the negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and take steps not only to intensify the negotiations, but also to achieve a concrete result.
Speaking to Trend Agency on January 10, Muradova commented on President Ilham Aliyev's speech at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers dedicated to discuss results of the country's socio-economic developments in 2013 and outline tasks for 2014.
Muradova said the reality is that the conflict is delayed and the status-quo still remains.
She noted that despite the fact that the bodies, which mediate in addressing this conflict, have repeatedly stressed the importance of changing the status quo, but there no further appeals and no concrete steps are taken for changing the situation.
"In his speech, President Aliyev paid a special attention to this issue and noted that there was no progress in the negotiations over the past year, except for the meeting of the presidents at the end of the year, in which was agreed to continue the negotiations," Muradova said.
Aliyev noted at the meeting that if Armenia demonstrates a constructive approach to the settlement of the issue, an agreement could be reached soon. He said the true intentions of Armenia will be fully clarified in 2014.
Muradova said if to speak about changing the status quo, it is known what specifically it involves.
"It begins with the liberation of Azerbaijani territories from the invading troops. Co-chairs should not only emphasize the need to change the status quo, but also should talk about the need to free territories. But, unfortunately, they do not talk about it, which causes a fair concern of Azerbaijan," Muradova stressed.
Armenia occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions, after laying territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor that had caused a lengthy war in the early 1990s.The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenia's withdrawal from the Azerbaijani territory, but they have not been enforced to this day.
Peace talks, mediated by Russia, France and the U.S. through the OSCE Minsk Group, are underway on the basis of a peace outline proposed by the Minsk Group co-chairs and dubbed the Madrid Principles. The negotiations have been largely fruitless so far.
Muradova went on to say that it is apparent the rapid development of Azerbaijan and difficult situation in Armenia, both in the economic, demographic, and political terms.
"Azerbaijan's strengthening, increasing military power, according to the Azerbaijani President, could have and have only a positive impact on the negotiating process. Because the power factor must be taken into account, of which is afraid of Armenia. Therefore, Armenia and circles supporting it voice opinions full of jealousy in connection with the growing power of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani President has demonstrated its logical position in the fact that the strengthening of Azerbaijan does not pursue other goals, as the other circles, countries and international groups talk about it. Azerbaijan mobilizes its capabilities, a balanced development of the country goes on, and in parallel with economic development its military power is also growing," Muradova said.
She further said those who say that the military power of Azerbaijan poses a danger, themselves exert military pressure on the world.