Minister: Peace talks to end with hoisting Azeri flag in Garabagh
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has said that though
it is currently difficult to cite a timeframe for completing the
peaceful settlement of the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict with
Armenia, the final step will be that "the Azerbaijani flag will
again waive over Khankandi."
He also said any elections should take place with the participation of the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of Upper Garabagh.
"Elections are to be held with the participation of the two communities, which should determine the future status within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan," Mammadyarov told the press Wednesday.
The separatist regime operating in the region elected its 33-seat "parliament" on Sunday in a "vote" condemned by Azerbaijan and the world community.
According to the minister, he will meet with the mediating OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in early June.
"We will discuss the results of the co-chairs’ meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian, which was held in Brussels in May," Mammadyarov said.
He said Baku is to discuss with the co-chairs the next step in the negotiating process, but only if the Armenian side agrees with the updated Madrid principles, an outline for a conflict settlement proposed by the OSCE mediators.
Ethnic Armenians in Upper Garabagh, backed by Armenia, declared so-called independence in fighting that erupted as the Soviet Union headed towards its 1991 collapse. The war left over 30,000 people dead on both sides. The Armenians invaded Upper Garabagh and seven surrounding Azeri districts before a cease-fire was declared in 1994.
Commenting on US President Barack Obama’s nominating as an ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza, a senior State Department official who previously co-chaired the Minsk Group, the foreign minister said Baku welcomes the decision, but his appointment requires certain procedures in the US Senate.*
He also said any elections should take place with the participation of the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of Upper Garabagh.
"Elections are to be held with the participation of the two communities, which should determine the future status within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan," Mammadyarov told the press Wednesday.
The separatist regime operating in the region elected its 33-seat "parliament" on Sunday in a "vote" condemned by Azerbaijan and the world community.
According to the minister, he will meet with the mediating OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in early June.
"We will discuss the results of the co-chairs’ meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian, which was held in Brussels in May," Mammadyarov said.
He said Baku is to discuss with the co-chairs the next step in the negotiating process, but only if the Armenian side agrees with the updated Madrid principles, an outline for a conflict settlement proposed by the OSCE mediators.
Ethnic Armenians in Upper Garabagh, backed by Armenia, declared so-called independence in fighting that erupted as the Soviet Union headed towards its 1991 collapse. The war left over 30,000 people dead on both sides. The Armenians invaded Upper Garabagh and seven surrounding Azeri districts before a cease-fire was declared in 1994.
Commenting on US President Barack Obama’s nominating as an ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza, a senior State Department official who previously co-chaired the Minsk Group, the foreign minister said Baku welcomes the decision, but his appointment requires certain procedures in the US Senate.*
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