Azernews.Az

BAKU – Azerbaijan proposes Armenia to begin work on a peace agreement on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict without further delay.

"I believe that some progress has been made, and we can safely go to a peace agreement," Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said in an interview with Russia’s Interfax news agency.

Asked when Baku was ready to begin negotiations on a peace agreement with Armenia, the minister said: "Right today."

"Many media outlets write that the meeting in Kazan was not successful, but I do not agree with this," Mammadyarov said referring to the Kazan meeting of presidents of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia held on June 24.

"I agree rather with the position that, firstly, as also reflected in the statement of the presidents, the rapprochement did occur, and, secondly, we - Azerbaijan and Armenia - should continue negotiations with no hysterics and work on rapprochement of positions," the minister said.

"Moreover, Azerbaijan is still in the same position that it were after Sochi in 2010. We are ready to begin drafting a peace agreement with the understanding of what has been achieved. Kazan allowed us to move forward. We understood that there are still uncoordinated elements, but in any case they should be reflected in the peace treaty, and if there is actually a free will, then let's work on it immediately, without waiting for the next phase of negotiations on basic principles,' Azerbaijani minister noted.

"The basic principles already exist as a base, and there is an understanding in what direction we are moving in terms of a peaceful settlement. There are uncoordinated details within the basic principles and there is no need to triple efforts to harmonize these elements as they still need to be reflected in the peace agreement. So why make a fuss? Let’s work towards a peace agreement, and show the world our political will that we are ready to work immediately on a legally binding peace agreement, rather than on a political document," Mammadyarov added.

Gabala radar
Baku is holding talks with Moscow to reschedule Russia's Gabala radar station lease, the foreign minister continued.

"Yes, negotiations are underway. The issue is being discussed."

In any case, it was necessary to extend the document on lease of the station or revise it in accordance with the existing agreement on the Gabala radar station. "That is, life itself pushes us to reconsider the terms of the contract," the foreign minister stated.

"At one time, when we just started to discuss it, and even before it, the Russian side came up with the initiative for Azerbaijan to give consent to use this station by Russia and the United States. And, naturally, we told that it will be our modest, perhaps, but very important contribution to the nonproliferation regime, and we are ready to discuss this topic. After several rounds of talks between Moscow and Washington, both parties informed us about the essence of the negotiations," said Mammdyarov.

Azerbaijani foreign minister stressed that under current conditions the Gabala radar station is of great strategic importance "and it should find an adequate assessment as a strategic facility."