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BAKU: Vagif Sadikhov: "Chances For The Peaceful Resolution Of The Ka

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  • BAKU: Vagif Sadikhov: "Chances For The Peaceful Resolution Of The Ka

    VAGIF SADIKHOV: "CHANCES FOR THE PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF THE KARABAKH CONFLICT ARE REDUCING BUT AZERBAIJAN WILL BE LOYAL TO ITS COMMITMENTS TILL THE END"

    Today.Az
    http://www.today.az/news/polit ics/45378.html
    June 3 2008
    Azerbaijan

    Day.Az interview with deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Vagif
    Sadikhov.

    - Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, various organizations and
    countries constantly call on the parties of the Nagorno Karabakh
    conflict to make mutual concessions for the problem settlement. It
    is clear for Armenia, but is it reasonable to demand concessions from
    Azerbaijan, a party, which suffered from occupation?

    - Certainly, on the whole, compromises, as a basis of a negotiation
    process, no matter whether it is Karabakh or any other issue, are
    a normal event. People come to the negotiation table, when they are
    ready to sacrifice something, concede in something and finally come
    to a coordinated decision. Let's admit that otherwise they would not
    come to the negotiation table. This is a facilitated vision of the
    issue. Yet in the situation, related to issue of life or death, one
    should think over how far we ready to go in our concessions, especially
    when issues are related to basic moments, such as territorial integrity
    and sovereignty.

    Azerbaijan has been within the so-called "Minsk process" since 1992
    since the creation of this group. We base on the fact that Azerbaijan
    has always been open to compromises and we have sacrificed to much
    for the negotiation process during all achievements and drops, during
    all changes and problems in the international life around this process
    both in Armenia and in Azerbaijan.

    But Azerbaijan side always undertook steps for not going beyond this
    line between the principal position and compromises. It is clear to
    everybody that there are strategic principles backed by strategic
    interests. But in the framework of this strategy a country has any
    tactic plans, which is normal, checks it in advance considering its
    own potential and opportunities of other countries in the predicted
    situation. Sometimes the development of this situation can not depend
    on us, when something occurs somewhere and situation may change.

    Therefore, we do not make the word "compromise" abstract, but at the
    same time we study thoroughly what we are proposed and what we are
    presented in the package of compromises.

    I can say that whatever is said by different parties the executive
    power of Azerbaijan has never forgotten the principal position of
    the Azerbaijani state and Azerbaijani people and the whole work on
    the negotiation process has always been carried out on the basis of
    an exact plan.

    Yes, in some moments, we indeed consider the development of
    international situation and may exaggerate some moments, but at the
    same time we have never given up our principal position and will never
    do it in the future. We study the proposals, received from all sides,
    and we study these appeals for compromises through the prism of our
    own interests.

    - But some people still state that without compromises from Azerbaijani
    side the resolution of the conflict is impossible, trying to make us
    accept the situation of the status-quo...

    - You know at the recent conference in Baku its speaker also started
    to speak in this direction, saying that demonstration of a principal
    position is good, but can this promote an agreement?

    We can not forget our principal positions. The constantly voiced
    appeals for compromises in conditions when we settle this conflict
    in the framework of international organizations, which has its own
    principles (in this case, this is the Helsinki final act), as if
    saying: "Yes, we do have principles, but we do not want to use them
    in assessment of this situation and just offer you to forget them
    and come to an agreement independently".

    And my answer is: "Don't you think that by this way you recognize
    the completed situation and if by some reasons you recognize the
    occupation of our territories by Armenia, you are on a very dangerous
    path, as tomorrow, when the situation reverse and President and senior
    commander of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev orders to the Defense Minister to
    start military actions for restoration of the territorial integrity,
    the situation will reverse and in this situation you will have to
    ask Armenia: "Take the situation into account and make compromises"?"

    Thus, this is a vicious circle. If once you reject international
    principles, you step on the way, when you will have to speak about
    compromises and forget principles depending on the situation in the
    field of battle. This is a cynic approach.

    - Meanwhile, Azerbaijan itself has emtrusted the resolution of the
    Nagorno Karabakh conflict to OSCE, yet this mediation has not brought
    any results. Does it create doubts regarding the OSCE ability to
    settle the problem and how urgent is the proposal to replace the
    co-chairing countries of the Minsk Group in this connection?

    - Despite the complexity of the negotiation process and all the
    critical statements addressed to the co-chairs and their separate
    actions, we consider it necessary to go through the peaceful part of
    the resolution till the end. Yes, chances for the peaceful resolution
    of the conflict are reducing but Azerbaijan considers it possible
    to advance and we want to be loyal to our commitments. Therefore,
    we will move forward until there is a single chance to settle this
    conflict peacefully.
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