Spokesperson: Armenian FM still engaged in meaningless wordplay
By Sara Israfilbayova
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry says Yerevan, instead of making accusations and excuses, should join substantive negotiations with the Azerbaijani side and co-chairs of the OSCE MG to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Foreign Ministry’s Spokesman Hikmat Hajiyev told Trend that Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, who by his previous statements put himself in an awkward position, now resorts to deceit and various excuses to get out of the situation.
Nalbandian is still absurdly playing with words, said the spokesperson, commenting on the anti-Azerbaijani statements and accusations voiced by the Armenian FM.
“Principles of the [Nagorno-Karabakh] conflict settlement, voiced by the US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Richard Hoagland, are also supported by the other co-chair countries, and envisage a phased resolution of the conflict. According to the essence and logic of these principles, based on the Helsinki Final Act, as a first step, the Armenian troops must be withdrawn from the occupied territories around Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabakh region, and IDPs must be returned to these territories. These principles were also reaffirmed in the L'Aquila, Muskoka and Los Cabos statements by the presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries,” Hajiyev said.
Most importantly, the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of the Armenian troops from the occupied Azerbaijani territories was also confirmed in the UN Security Council resolutions 822, 853, 874 and 884, he noted.
Richard Hoagland, addressing a round-table in Washington on August 24, emphasized that territorial integrity is an important part of the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
He stressed that there can be no settlement without respect for Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and the recognition that sovereignty over these territories must be restored, adding that an enduring settlement will have to recognize the right of all IDPs and refugees to return to their former places of residence and ensuring international security guarantees.
Hajiyev reminded that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries – Russia, France and the U.S- , as permanent members of the UN Security Council, directly participated in the adoption of these resolutions.
“We would like to remind the Armenian foreign minister that the main point of substantive negotiations is the withdrawal of Armenian troops from the occupied Azerbaijani territories in accordance with these principles and a specific timeline,” he said. “Instead of making accusations and excuses, Armenian side should join substantive negotiations with the Azerbaijani side and co-chairs in order to change the status quo on the basis of the existing proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group, withdraw its troops from the occupied Azerbaijani territories and open up ways for living together in peace and prosperity in the region.”
Hajiyev emphasized that Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated its readiness for the serious talks on the soonest resolution of the conflict and changing the status quo.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.
Armenia still controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.
The conflict remains unsolved for many years due to the fact that the Armenian side does not fulfill and deviates from its duties with meaningless statements.
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