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AZERI LEADER REVEALS MAIN PRINCIPLES OF KARABAKH TALKS - TV
ANS TV, Baku
4 May 07
The Azerbaijani president has said that peacekeepers may be deployed
in the disputed area of Nagornyy Karabakh as part of a settlement
plan. Addressing displaced persons from Nagornyy Karabakh in a Baku
suburb on 4 May, Ilham Aliyev said that Azerbaijan does not mind
peacekeepers being deployed in Nagornyy Karabakh temporarily and that
without Azerbaijan's consent no status can ever be granted to Nagornyy
Karabakh. He also called on people not to trust anyone else but him on
the issue. The following is text of the report broadcast on Azerbaijani
TV station ANS on 4 May; subheading have been inserted editorially:
[Presenter] Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met displaced persons
today and spoke about the main principles of talks on a peaceful
settlement to the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict that have been kept
secret so far.
He called on the people not to believe statements by Armenian and
other politicians who speak on the basis of their own interests.
[Aliyev] Our position is as follows. In principle, I have repeatedly
said this. However, if we take into account the fact that both the
[OSCE] Minsk Group representatives [mediating the Nagornyy Karabakh
talks] and Armenian representatives are putting forward various
theories, I want to tell you once again about Azerbaijan's position
and the principles of the talks.
All occupied areas must be vacated
Our demand is that all occupied territories must be vacated, without
any conditions being set. True, at previous stages proposals were made
that five districts be vacated while Kalbacar and Lacin districts be
left and be subject of future talks. We never agreed to this because
we cannot allow the return of Kalbacar and Lacin to be carried out
under some conditions. Never. [pausing for people's applause]
Therefore, at the current stage of the talks, there is general
agreement that seven districts [around Nagornyy Karabakh, controlled
by Armenians] should be cleaned from occupying forces and be returned
to Azerbaijan. Certainly, we understand that we can do this in a
phased way but this phase cannot be protracted for long. We have been
demanding for several years, [repeating] several years, that all the
seven districts must be returned immediately after the signing of a
peace treaty. Afterwards, Azerbaijanis who lived in Nagornyy Karabakh
must return to their home lands, and this is our fundamental condition.
Our position on this has gained sufficient value, and both the
mediators [Minsk Group co-chairs] dealing with this issue and the
Armenian side already accept this in the negotiating process.
Armenia breaches confidentiality in peace talks
Now, I am not interested in whatever they say in their own county
[presumably, Armenia], what lies they are telling. I am telling you
the fundamental points of the talks precisely because the opposite
side has breached confidentiality [in peace talks].
In one word, the seven districts must be unconditionally returned. At
the same time, Azerbaijanis must return to Nagornyy Karabakh,
including Susa.
[applause] Afterwards, Nagornyy Karabakh's future status can be
defined. How [will this be done?] - without our consent no status can
ever be granted to Nagornyy Karabakh, and Azerbaijan will never put
up with the separation of Nagornyy Karabakh from Azerbaijan. We will
restore our territorial integrity in any way. [applause] Nagornyy
Karabakh can be given a status, but within the territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan. [edit point]
Peacekeepers may be deployed
Peacekeeping forces may be brought. What is more, this has not
been our desire, we do not find it necessary. However, we see that
Armenia is very much afraid of us and wants to ensure its security
there. In principle, we do not mind peacekeepers being temporarily
deployed there.
This exists in world practice. You may know that peacekeeping forces
always come to other conflict zones and serve there. At the same time,
they can use the Lacin corridor to maintain contact between Nagornyy
Karabakh and Armenia by land. That is, these are the main principles
negotiated and discussed and Azerbaijan's position - I am telling you
like it is. Whoever says whatever, whatever someone pursuing their
political aims or an Armenian representatives or anyone else says,
do not trust them. Trust me. I have never gone back on my words. I
have done what I said. [applause]
ANS TV, Baku
4 May 07
The Azerbaijani president has said that peacekeepers may be deployed
in the disputed area of Nagornyy Karabakh as part of a settlement
plan. Addressing displaced persons from Nagornyy Karabakh in a Baku
suburb on 4 May, Ilham Aliyev said that Azerbaijan does not mind
peacekeepers being deployed in Nagornyy Karabakh temporarily and that
without Azerbaijan's consent no status can ever be granted to Nagornyy
Karabakh. He also called on people not to trust anyone else but him on
the issue. The following is text of the report broadcast on Azerbaijani
TV station ANS on 4 May; subheading have been inserted editorially:
[Presenter] Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met displaced persons
today and spoke about the main principles of talks on a peaceful
settlement to the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict that have been kept
secret so far.
He called on the people not to believe statements by Armenian and
other politicians who speak on the basis of their own interests.
[Aliyev] Our position is as follows. In principle, I have repeatedly
said this. However, if we take into account the fact that both the
[OSCE] Minsk Group representatives [mediating the Nagornyy Karabakh
talks] and Armenian representatives are putting forward various
theories, I want to tell you once again about Azerbaijan's position
and the principles of the talks.
All occupied areas must be vacated
Our demand is that all occupied territories must be vacated, without
any conditions being set. True, at previous stages proposals were made
that five districts be vacated while Kalbacar and Lacin districts be
left and be subject of future talks. We never agreed to this because
we cannot allow the return of Kalbacar and Lacin to be carried out
under some conditions. Never. [pausing for people's applause]
Therefore, at the current stage of the talks, there is general
agreement that seven districts [around Nagornyy Karabakh, controlled
by Armenians] should be cleaned from occupying forces and be returned
to Azerbaijan. Certainly, we understand that we can do this in a
phased way but this phase cannot be protracted for long. We have been
demanding for several years, [repeating] several years, that all the
seven districts must be returned immediately after the signing of a
peace treaty. Afterwards, Azerbaijanis who lived in Nagornyy Karabakh
must return to their home lands, and this is our fundamental condition.
Our position on this has gained sufficient value, and both the
mediators [Minsk Group co-chairs] dealing with this issue and the
Armenian side already accept this in the negotiating process.
Armenia breaches confidentiality in peace talks
Now, I am not interested in whatever they say in their own county
[presumably, Armenia], what lies they are telling. I am telling you
the fundamental points of the talks precisely because the opposite
side has breached confidentiality [in peace talks].
In one word, the seven districts must be unconditionally returned. At
the same time, Azerbaijanis must return to Nagornyy Karabakh,
including Susa.
[applause] Afterwards, Nagornyy Karabakh's future status can be
defined. How [will this be done?] - without our consent no status can
ever be granted to Nagornyy Karabakh, and Azerbaijan will never put
up with the separation of Nagornyy Karabakh from Azerbaijan. We will
restore our territorial integrity in any way. [applause] Nagornyy
Karabakh can be given a status, but within the territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan. [edit point]
Peacekeepers may be deployed
Peacekeeping forces may be brought. What is more, this has not
been our desire, we do not find it necessary. However, we see that
Armenia is very much afraid of us and wants to ensure its security
there. In principle, we do not mind peacekeepers being temporarily
deployed there.
This exists in world practice. You may know that peacekeeping forces
always come to other conflict zones and serve there. At the same time,
they can use the Lacin corridor to maintain contact between Nagornyy
Karabakh and Armenia by land. That is, these are the main principles
negotiated and discussed and Azerbaijan's position - I am telling you
like it is. Whoever says whatever, whatever someone pursuing their
political aims or an Armenian representatives or anyone else says,
do not trust them. Trust me. I have never gone back on my words. I
have done what I said. [applause]