Armenian FM accuses Baku of `hampering conflict settlement`
Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian leveled
accusations against Azerbaijan at the United Nations over the Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh conflict, blaming Baku for allegedly
deliberately hampering the peace process, Armenia Today news agency
reported.
Addressing the UN General Assembly in New York, Nalbandian termed as unacceptable what he called Azerbaijani leaders` warnings of a military solution to the long-standing dispute and the world community`s failure to exert pressure to counter these statements. He said that, to move the negotiated conflict settlement forward, the sides should refrain from steps that could derail dialog.
``We are confident that there is substantial framework for settling the Garabagh conflict,`` Nalbandian said. ``According to the documents signed by the parties on the international level so far, Armenia and Azerbaijan are to assume a commitment to solve the problem based on the Madrid principles presented by the OSCE Minsk Group (MG) co-chairs,`` the Armenian minister said.
The MG co-chairs representing Russia, France and the United States submitted a set of basic principles for the conflict resolution to Baku and Yerevan in the Spanish capital in late 2007. Among the principles called for in the Madrid Document were ``the return of the territories surrounding Upper Garabagh to Azerbaijani control and an interim status for Upper Garabagh providing guarantees for security and self-government.`` It also embraced ``a corridor linking Armenia to Upper Garabagh`` as well as a future determination of the final legal status of Upper Garabagh ``through a legally binding expression of will`` and the right of ``internally displaced persons and refugees to return to their former places of residence.``
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven adjacent Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. Despite numerous rounds of OSCE-brokered negotiations, peace talks have been without results so far and refugees remain stranded.
Addressing the UN General Assembly in New York, Nalbandian termed as unacceptable what he called Azerbaijani leaders` warnings of a military solution to the long-standing dispute and the world community`s failure to exert pressure to counter these statements. He said that, to move the negotiated conflict settlement forward, the sides should refrain from steps that could derail dialog.
``We are confident that there is substantial framework for settling the Garabagh conflict,`` Nalbandian said. ``According to the documents signed by the parties on the international level so far, Armenia and Azerbaijan are to assume a commitment to solve the problem based on the Madrid principles presented by the OSCE Minsk Group (MG) co-chairs,`` the Armenian minister said.
The MG co-chairs representing Russia, France and the United States submitted a set of basic principles for the conflict resolution to Baku and Yerevan in the Spanish capital in late 2007. Among the principles called for in the Madrid Document were ``the return of the territories surrounding Upper Garabagh to Azerbaijani control and an interim status for Upper Garabagh providing guarantees for security and self-government.`` It also embraced ``a corridor linking Armenia to Upper Garabagh`` as well as a future determination of the final legal status of Upper Garabagh ``through a legally binding expression of will`` and the right of ``internally displaced persons and refugees to return to their former places of residence.``
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven adjacent Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. Despite numerous rounds of OSCE-brokered negotiations, peace talks have been without results so far and refugees remain stranded.
Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention.
Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis.
By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more.
Subscribe
You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper
Thank you!