Azernews.Az

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian has said Yerevan deems as pivotal Azerbaijan`s signing on November 2 of the declaration on a political settlement to the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict allegedly recognizing that the norms of international law are not limited to territorial integrity.
In an interview with Germany`s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper, Sarkisian claimed that the core of the problem was the status of Upper Garabagh, referring to an Azeri region under Armenian occupation. He reiterated Yerevan`s claim, saying Azerbaijan is to recognize the right of Garabagh Armenians to self-determination. According to Sarkisian, it will be possible to solve other issues regarding the conflict resolution afterwards.
The declaration, signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian Presidents Ilham Aliyev, Serzh Sarkisian and Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow following the Russia-brokered meeting, envisions further OSCE-mediated dialog between the sides. It urges joint effort in bolstering stability in the South Caucasus through a political settlement of the conflict based on the principles of international law and earlier documents.
Sarkisian maintained that Armenia`s goal was not to keep under control the districts surrounding Upper Garabagh, indicating that these territories were allegedly important for the protection of the separatist regime operating there.
Armenia has been occupying over 20% of Azerbaijan`s internationally-recognized territory since the early 1990s, in defiance of international law.
The Armenian leader said his country supported launching talks as soon as possible on a document regarding basic principles of a conflict settlement submitted by the mediating OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs. "After that, we have to discuss a peace accord. We have a long road ahead of us."
In reply to a question on the possible granting of the autonomy status to Upper Garabagh within Azerbaijan, Sarkisian said the ability of the region`s population to develop in safe conditions was in question.
"History has shown that this is not possible within Azerbaijan," he alleged. "We have never believed that Upper Garabagh could stay part of Azerbaijan."
As for the warm-up in relations between Armenia and Turkey, the two neighboring countries that have long been facing hostility, Sarkisian said improvements could be achieved in bilateral ties in a year`s time. He said Turkey`s recognizing the alleged Armenian genocide was not a primary pre-condition for restoring diplomatic ties between the two countries.
"It is not important now which side the initiative to improve ties comes from. The main thing is for these ties to be forged," Sarkisian said.
Armenia and Turkey have been at odds and the border between the two countries has been closed since 1993 on Ankara`s insistence due to Armenia`s policy of occupation against Azerbaijan and the "genocide" claims.
The Azerbaijani government was quick to respond to Sarkisian`s statement. The Foreign Ministry spokesman, Khazar Ibrahim, said there was uncertainty in his utterances. He reminded that the Moscow declaration, co-signed by the Armenian leader, envisions a settlement of the Garabagh conflict based on the principles and norms of international law.
"In all documents adopted in the world community so far, territorial integrity is held above everything, and the issue of the self-determination of nations finds its solution within this very principle," Ibrahim said.