Azernews.Az

The Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry spokesman has blamed US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group brokering settlement to the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict for inconsistency in his statements.
"It is difficult to comment on Matthew Bryza`s statement regarding the conflict settlement, as the statements he makes are expressed tomorrow absolutely differently or refuted. I thereby suggest that he be approached to clarify his views himself," Khazar Ibrahim told a news conference Monday.
Bryza had told reporters in Moscow that the future status of Upper Garabagh, an Azeri region under Armenian occupation, will be determined through a referendum among its population.
Ibrahim emphasized that all Azeri citizens are to take part in the referendum, in accord with the country`s Constitution.
"If we are talking about the principle of self-determination, this issue can be solved only within territorial integrity, in line with the Helsinki Final Act, which does not contradict Azerbaijan`s interests."
Ibrahim said that despite various statements being made, Baku`s position on the issues currently on the negotiating table remains unchanged. The conflict will be settled strictly stage by stage. In the initial stage, Armenian armed forces will be withdrawn from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Displaced persons will return home, and only after normal conditions are created between the Azeri and Armenian communities of Upper Garabagh will the region`s status be determined within Azerbaijan.
"This is the only way to settle the conflict," the spokesman said.