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BAKU: Baku Acknowledges Key Karabakh Points Not Yet Agreed

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  • BAKU: Baku Acknowledges Key Karabakh Points Not Yet Agreed

    BAKU ACKNOWLEDGES KEY KARABAKH POINTS NOT YET AGREED

    news.az
    Aug 1, 2011
    Azerbaijan

    Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has talked about the difficulties in
    reaching a peace settlement with Armenia in the conflict over Karabakh.

    He made the comments in an interview published in a special issue of
    The Business Year magazine, devoted to Azerbaijan, 1news.az reported.

    The Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and seven adjacent
    districts have been occupied by Armenian armed forces for over 20
    years, the minister noted. "And this is despite the fact that relevant
    resolutions of the UN Security Council and the international community
    demand the unconditional and immediate withdrawal of occupying forces
    from Azerbaijan."

    He recalled that negotiations on a resolution of the conflict, mediated
    by the OSCE Minsk Group, had been continuing for over 17 years.

    "Personally, I had several meetings with my Armenian counterpart,
    mediated by my Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov in 2010," Mammadyarov
    noted. "Additionally, we have been in regular contact with the OSCE
    Minsk Group co-chairs. In this way Azerbaijan and Armenia managed to
    smooth some differences, but nonetheless some important elements are
    still to be coordinated between the two parties. We continue working
    on the basic principles that will lay a basis for a comprehensive
    peace treaty."

    Mammadyarov noted that the leaders of France, Russia and the United
    States - the countries that co-chair the OSCE Minsk Group - had said
    in a joint statement that the status quo following Armenia's use of
    force had to change.

    The minister said that Azerbaijan expected the conflict settlement
    to ensure the withdrawal of troops from the occupied lands, the
    return of Azerbaijani refugees and displaced persons to their homes,
    the normalization of life, peaceful coexistence of Azerbaijanis and
    Armenians in the region and a future political process to define the
    status of self-determination for both communities of Nagorno-Karabakh
    within the territory of Azerbaijan.

    "We are strongly convinced that peace can be durable if it is based
    on the peaceful coexistence of both communities. As part of the
    territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, we are ready to grant the region
    self-government with the participation of both communities.

    "This is recognized and supported by the world community, as well.

    Despite all the difficulties caused by the inconsistency of the
    Armenian stance, we believe in a peaceful settlement of the conflict,"
    Mammadyarov said.

    He noted that Armenia was left out of regional economic projects
    because of the Karabakh conflict.

    "The official position of Azerbaijan is that Armenia should withdraw
    its occupying forces from Azerbaijani territory. After this, the
    door to economic cooperation and mutual relations will be open,"
    Mammadyarov said.

    "At the same time Azerbaijan has strong economic ties with all the
    other countries of the region and these relations will grow from year
    to year. Our country is the economic leader in the South Caucasus
    and one of the world's most rapidly growing economies."

    Conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1988 when Armenia made claims
    on the Azerbaijani territory. Armenian armed forces occupied a swathe
    of Azerbaijani territory from 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh
    region and seven surrounding districts. Despite a ceasefire in 1994,
    no long-term peace agreement has been reached.

    The nub of the conflict remains unresolved - the competing claims of
    territorial integrity, which Azerbaijan insists takes precedence in
    the case of Karabakh, and self-determination, which Armenia wants to
    see for the Armenians of Karabakh.

    The latest meeting of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan,
    mediated by the Russian president in Kazan on 24 June, failed to reach
    agreement on the basic principles for a Karabakh settlement. Dmitriy
    Medvedev subsequently sent letters to both leaders, outlining his
    views on resolution of the conflict. The Armenian and Azerbaijani
    presidents have responded to the letters, but the content of the
    content of the letters and responses has not yet been made public.

    European integration

    Azerbaijan has always been an active participant in the process of
    reintegration with Europe, Elmar Mammadyarov said in The Business
    Year interview, according to 1news.az.

    "Our cooperation has undergone a serious transformation from
    the initial emphasis on aid [from the EU] to mutually beneficial
    cooperation which reflects the interests of both sides. It is important
    that our cooperation is based on an understanding of effectiveness,
    equal partnership, mutual understanding and respect."

    The minister said that Azerbaijan was today the EU's main trading
    partner in the region, adding that the oil-rich country was expecting
    growth in its non-energy sector in the near future.

    "Therefore our cooperation should cover other spheres of activity,
    such as education, science and research, transport, agriculture
    and security. We have started the talks on an Association Agreement
    between the EU and Azerbaijan as part of the Eastern Partnership. The
    agreement is intended to replace the existing Agreement on Partnership
    and Cooperation and will further strengthen relations between the EU
    and Azerbaijan, help to continue the reform process in our country
    and promote economic integration and political cooperation between
    the sides."

    News.Az




    From: A. Papazian
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