Yerevan poised to submit proposals on conflict settlement
Armenia is about to submit its proposals on the
updated version of the basic principles for settling the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh, Tert.am
news website has quoted Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian as
saying at a news conference with OSCE Chairman-in-Office Kanat
Saudabayev on Tuesday.
During the Russia-brokered talks between the two countries’ presidents held in Sochi, Russia on January 25, it was decided that Baku and Yerevan are to submit within the next two weeks their proposals on the provisions of the updated version of the OSCE Madrid principles that remain to be agreed upon.
Nalbandian claimed that Azerbaijan had long been rejecting the Madrid principles and said he questioned Baku’s accepting the document now.
"For about a year Azerbaijan had refused to negotiate based on the Madrid principles. The Azerbaijani side was saying that such a document does not exist altogether. When they present their proposals, everything will be clear," Nalbandian said.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said Monday that Baku generally approves the updated version of the basic conflict settlement principles.
Azerbaijan has termed Nalbandian’s statement as "uncertain and unfounded." Elkhan Polukhov, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, reminded that his government had already agreed to the renewed Madrid document and it is now Yerevan’s turn to follow suit.
"But instead of taking the same step, Armenia, in the person of Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian, is evading stating its official stance by all means," the ministry spokesman said, adding that the statement is slated for audience at home.
The Madrid Document, initially presented by the US, Russian and French mediators at the summit held in the Spanish capital in 2007, says the Garabagh conflict is to be settled in accordance with both territorial integrity and the right of nations to self-determination. Its provisions include "the return of the territories surrounding Upper Garabagh to Azerbaijani control" and a future determination of the 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 other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. The OSCE Minsk Group, co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France, is brokering peace talks.*
During the Russia-brokered talks between the two countries’ presidents held in Sochi, Russia on January 25, it was decided that Baku and Yerevan are to submit within the next two weeks their proposals on the provisions of the updated version of the OSCE Madrid principles that remain to be agreed upon.
Nalbandian claimed that Azerbaijan had long been rejecting the Madrid principles and said he questioned Baku’s accepting the document now.
"For about a year Azerbaijan had refused to negotiate based on the Madrid principles. The Azerbaijani side was saying that such a document does not exist altogether. When they present their proposals, everything will be clear," Nalbandian said.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said Monday that Baku generally approves the updated version of the basic conflict settlement principles.
Azerbaijan has termed Nalbandian’s statement as "uncertain and unfounded." Elkhan Polukhov, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, reminded that his government had already agreed to the renewed Madrid document and it is now Yerevan’s turn to follow suit.
"But instead of taking the same step, Armenia, in the person of Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian, is evading stating its official stance by all means," the ministry spokesman said, adding that the statement is slated for audience at home.
The Madrid Document, initially presented by the US, Russian and French mediators at the summit held in the Spanish capital in 2007, says the Garabagh conflict is to be settled in accordance with both territorial integrity and the right of nations to self-determination. Its provisions include "the return of the territories surrounding Upper Garabagh to Azerbaijani control" and a future determination of the 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 other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. The OSCE Minsk Group, co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France, is brokering peace talks.*
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