President discloses key elements of Garabagh paper
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has said three
elements of the declaration on the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh
conflict, signed by Armenian and Russian leaders in Moscow on
November 2, were of particular importance for his country.
Aliyev told the Italian RAI International TV channel that the document confirmed that Azerbaijan and Armenia were the only parties to the dispute, and Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian`s signature indicated that Yerevan now accepts this.
"This shows that the Armenian leadership realizes that Azerbaijan and Armenia are the conflicting sides. This was not the case before. Initially, they were trying to convince everyone that the war is between Upper Garabagh and Azerbaijan," Aliyev said.
The self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh republic is seeking participation in peace talks as a party, a claim repeatedly rejected by Baku as a blatant contradiction to international law. Azerbaijani officials have, on many occasions, made it clear that preserving the country`s territorial integrity is a must in reaching a solution to the Garabagh problem.
Secondly, the declaration indicates that the Garabagh conflict must be settled using the norms and principles of international law, resolutions and decisions. This means that the four UN resolutions calling for an unconditional withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories are to be enforced, Aliyev said.
He also said that the third important element of the Moscow declaration was providing international guarantees during each stage of the conflict`s settlement.
"This means that the conflict must be resolved stage by stage. This has always been our stance, while that of Armenia has been a package-based settlement," Aliyev said.
The Azerbaijani leader emphasized that these were three new elements in the negotiating process. He expressed content with the fact that the Armenian leadership had demonstrated courage by signing up these principles. "If Armenia abides by these principles, the conflict can be easily settled."
Aliyev stressed that the document signed in Moscow was not an accord, but a political declaration. "We are talking about a declaration reflecting the positions of the countries involved on how the conflict is to be settled."
The president noted that by signing the paper, Azerbaijan did not give up the military alternative of settling the long-standing dispute.
"No obligation precluding the military option can be found in the declaration. The fact that it says `we believe a political solution should be sought` does not imply that we have given up our fundamental rights. In keeping with all international norms, every country reserves the right to defend itself."
Aliyev highlighted that no peacekeepers are serving on the contact line of the Azerbaijani and Armenian troops and the two countries` servicemen face-off there, therefore, peace is fragile. Nonetheless, no one wants war in the Caucasus region. "But at the same time, we cannot reconcile with this situation. For the sake of restoring peace in the Caucasus, we should swiftly find a way of solving the problem [Garabagh conflict]," Aliyev added.
Aliyev told the Italian RAI International TV channel that the document confirmed that Azerbaijan and Armenia were the only parties to the dispute, and Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian`s signature indicated that Yerevan now accepts this.
"This shows that the Armenian leadership realizes that Azerbaijan and Armenia are the conflicting sides. This was not the case before. Initially, they were trying to convince everyone that the war is between Upper Garabagh and Azerbaijan," Aliyev said.
The self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh republic is seeking participation in peace talks as a party, a claim repeatedly rejected by Baku as a blatant contradiction to international law. Azerbaijani officials have, on many occasions, made it clear that preserving the country`s territorial integrity is a must in reaching a solution to the Garabagh problem.
Secondly, the declaration indicates that the Garabagh conflict must be settled using the norms and principles of international law, resolutions and decisions. This means that the four UN resolutions calling for an unconditional withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories are to be enforced, Aliyev said.
He also said that the third important element of the Moscow declaration was providing international guarantees during each stage of the conflict`s settlement.
"This means that the conflict must be resolved stage by stage. This has always been our stance, while that of Armenia has been a package-based settlement," Aliyev said.
The Azerbaijani leader emphasized that these were three new elements in the negotiating process. He expressed content with the fact that the Armenian leadership had demonstrated courage by signing up these principles. "If Armenia abides by these principles, the conflict can be easily settled."
Aliyev stressed that the document signed in Moscow was not an accord, but a political declaration. "We are talking about a declaration reflecting the positions of the countries involved on how the conflict is to be settled."
The president noted that by signing the paper, Azerbaijan did not give up the military alternative of settling the long-standing dispute.
"No obligation precluding the military option can be found in the declaration. The fact that it says `we believe a political solution should be sought` does not imply that we have given up our fundamental rights. In keeping with all international norms, every country reserves the right to defend itself."
Aliyev highlighted that no peacekeepers are serving on the contact line of the Azerbaijani and Armenian troops and the two countries` servicemen face-off there, therefore, peace is fragile. Nonetheless, no one wants war in the Caucasus region. "But at the same time, we cannot reconcile with this situation. For the sake of restoring peace in the Caucasus, we should swiftly find a way of solving the problem [Garabagh conflict]," Aliyev added.
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