Azernews.Az

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has reportedly said the status of the Nagorno Karabakh region, occupied by Armenian armed forces since the 1990s war, should be determined jointly with Armenian and Azerbaijani communities that once lived there together.

"First, we must create conditions for it, whilst with the occupation of [Azerbaijani] territories, it is impossible to talk about a voluntary determination of the status, which the Armenian side is insistently speaking about," Mammadyarov said in an exclusive interview with RT Arabic (Rusiya Al-Yaum) TV channel.

"Azerbaijan, as a country that has suffered in the context of the occupied territories and refugees, is the most ardent supporter of moving this process from deadlock," Mammadyarov said.

He said it is impossible to resolve the Karabakh conflict "overnight", therefore, when starting the next stage of negotiations in Prague seven years ago, Baku realized that it should be settled step by step.

"If there are occupied territories, captured and completely ethnically cleansed, as well as people who have been driven out of their places of residence, then it is quite difficult to move towards positive [changes] and a breakthrough," the minister said.

Mammadyarov said the negotiations are continuing, reminding that there is a peace outline titled the Madrid principles, which is the basis for the ongoing peace talks.

"In general, we understand the concept of the roadmap, how and where we need to move," said Mammadyarov. "There is a common understanding for us and for the [mediating] OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs - Russia, the U.S. and France. I think Armenia also understands that the existing status quo is not only unacceptable, but it also reverses the development of the region."

The Madrid Document, also referred to as Basic Principles, includes the return of the territories surrounding the Nagorno Karabakh region to Azerbaijani control; determining the final legal status of Nagorno Karabakh; a corridor linking Armenia to the region; and the right of all internally displaced persons to return home.

About 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory has been under the occupation of Armenian armed forces since a ceasefire was signed in 1994 following the brutal war. Peace talks have been largely fruitless so far.