Mamedyarov once again started talking about substantive negotiations
ArmInfo.Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov touched upon the reaction of his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian to the statement of the American co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group Richard Hoagland on the six elements of the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
In particular, Mammedyarov stated that the Akvilles, Muskok and Los Cabos statements of the heads of state of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs reflected the main elements of the stage-by-stage settlement of the conflict on the basis of the Helsinki Final Act. "And these elements constitute the fundamental basis of the updated Madrid principles. These principles were once again underlined by the co-chair of the United States, Richard Hoagland. The first step in the consistent implementation of these mutually complementary principles is the withdrawal of Armenian troops from the occupied territories. Eliminating the fact of occupation, it is necessary to return the internally displaced persons to their native lands and take appropriate security measures. It should also be noted that Armenia does not comply with the requirements of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions adopted in connection with the conflict," the Foreign Minister said.
At the same time, Mammadyarov said that if the Armenian side recognizes that these principles are not new and it accepts them, then it is already necessary to start substantive negotiations with a view to discussing the details. "The Armenian people will be able to take advantage of opportunities for cooperation that may arise in connection with the settlement of the conflict. The Azerbaijani side has repeatedly stated that it is ready for serious talks on changing the status quo, which was declared unacceptable at the level of the heads of state of the co-chairmen, an early settlement of the conflict and ensuring sustainable peace in the region," concluded Mammadyarov. To note, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, commenting on Hoagland's statement, noted that the American co-chairman did not say anything new on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement. "The American mediator did not say anything new, he said what the co-chair countries talked about. If you look at the five statements of the intermediaries, then nothing new is said about these items. Armenia has already expressed its position on these five statements. It is another matter that Azerbaijan avoids in any way publicize its position on these formulations. Moreover, it not only avoids, but also pretends that there are no such proposals, principles or elements," Nalbandian told journalists.
On the eve, late at night, the leaving US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Richard Hoagland (who will be replaced by Charge d'Affaires at the US Mission to the International Organizations in Vienna, Andrew Chauffer), published 6 elements on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. According to the report, taking into account the complex history of the Karabakh conflict sides should in the future to fix its final legal status on the basis of consensus and legally binding expression of will. And before that territory within the administrative borders of the former Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous and not under the control of Baku must obtain a temporary status, which, at a minimum, provides guarantees of security and sovereignty.
The "occupied territories" around Nagorno-Karabakh, according to the statement, should be transferred under the control of Baku. There cannot be any settlement without taking into account Azerbaijan's sovereignty, the report says. "The power of Azerbaijan over these territories should be restored," the text says.
The next item is discussed the creation of a land corridor between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, which should be "wide enough" for the safe transport, but can not occupy the entire territory of Lachin region.
A long-term settlement should ensure the right of all forcibly resettled and refugees to places of early residence, the statement said.
And the last point is negotiating the creation of international security guarantees, which includes a long- term settlement. These guarantees, according to the statement, should include peacekeeping operations. "There is no scenario in which the world could be provided without well-organized peacekeeping activities that enjoy the confidence of all parties," the statement said.