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Aliyev: Armenia, Azerbaijan far from peace accord
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Posted July 11 2006
Baku, July 10, AssA-Irada
President Ilham Aliyev has said Azerbaijan and Armenia are far from
reaching a peace accord.
"The proposals made by the OSCE Minsk Group [mediating settlement
to the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict] show the position of
its co-chairs. But we haven't agreed them," Aliyev told Turkey's
Jumhuriyyat (Republic) newspaper.
"The co-chairs just disclosed some of the proposals in their latest
statements. We didn't object to this, as we are not interested in
shrouding talks in secrecy," President Aliyev said, but added that
Azerbaijan agreed to hold talks in private considering Armenia's
proposals.
The document outlining the core settlement principles issued by the
mediators from the United States, Russia and France caused a great
deal of debate. The statement, made public by the US co-chair, said
there is a "framework agreement" on discussion and disclosed all of
its provisions. The deal covers the withdrawal of Armenian forces from
the occupied Azeri territories, followed by normalizing diplomatic
and economic relations between the two countries, deployment of
peacekeepers in the conflict zone and finally, a vote to determine
the future status of Upper Garabagh.
The head of state said that first of all, Azerbaijan's territorial
integrity must be restored to settle the Garabagh conflict. Any
compromises are out of the question, as the occupied territories must
be liberated and Azeri refugees and IDPs returned home, Aliyev said.
With regard to the future status of Upper Garabagh, the president said
the positions of the two communities of Garabagh should be taken into
account, as both Azerbaijanis and Armenians had lived in Upper Garabagh
before the outbreak of the conflict. The return of Azerbaijanis to
Upper Garabagh is a condition for the solution of the status issue,
he said.
"They must return and re-settle there. Afterwards, both communities
and Azerbaijan - as Upper Garabagh is its integral part- may hold
talks on the status of the region. Time will show how long these
talks will last." President Aliyev went on to say that the OSCE
mediators and the leadership of Armenia realize that Azerbaijan will
never allow violating its territorial integrity, although Armenia is
trying to put forth unrealistic claims.
"The truth is that Azerbaijan's territorial integrity is not a subject
of discussion and Upper Garabagh will never be granted the status of
independence," Aliyev said.
He said Armenia is currently trying to annex Upper Garabagh, which
is impossible.
"I may want to annex Azerbaijani historic land - the Irevan Khanate
(currently the territory of Yerevan) to Azerbaijan. But this is not
realistic now," the president said.
Aliyev did not rule out that a new war will be launched if the Garabagh
conflict is not settled in peace.
"We see that the Armenian side is acting insincere in talks. We should
therefore be prepared for all options. Azerbaijan's increasing economic
potential military power, regional situation and our ever-growing
world image certainly puts us at a prevalent position.
This will be more evident as years go by. Armenia should realize this
and will bear responsibility for any possible consequences."*
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Posted July 11 2006
Baku, July 10, AssA-Irada
President Ilham Aliyev has said Azerbaijan and Armenia are far from
reaching a peace accord.
"The proposals made by the OSCE Minsk Group [mediating settlement
to the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict] show the position of
its co-chairs. But we haven't agreed them," Aliyev told Turkey's
Jumhuriyyat (Republic) newspaper.
"The co-chairs just disclosed some of the proposals in their latest
statements. We didn't object to this, as we are not interested in
shrouding talks in secrecy," President Aliyev said, but added that
Azerbaijan agreed to hold talks in private considering Armenia's
proposals.
The document outlining the core settlement principles issued by the
mediators from the United States, Russia and France caused a great
deal of debate. The statement, made public by the US co-chair, said
there is a "framework agreement" on discussion and disclosed all of
its provisions. The deal covers the withdrawal of Armenian forces from
the occupied Azeri territories, followed by normalizing diplomatic
and economic relations between the two countries, deployment of
peacekeepers in the conflict zone and finally, a vote to determine
the future status of Upper Garabagh.
The head of state said that first of all, Azerbaijan's territorial
integrity must be restored to settle the Garabagh conflict. Any
compromises are out of the question, as the occupied territories must
be liberated and Azeri refugees and IDPs returned home, Aliyev said.
With regard to the future status of Upper Garabagh, the president said
the positions of the two communities of Garabagh should be taken into
account, as both Azerbaijanis and Armenians had lived in Upper Garabagh
before the outbreak of the conflict. The return of Azerbaijanis to
Upper Garabagh is a condition for the solution of the status issue,
he said.
"They must return and re-settle there. Afterwards, both communities
and Azerbaijan - as Upper Garabagh is its integral part- may hold
talks on the status of the region. Time will show how long these
talks will last." President Aliyev went on to say that the OSCE
mediators and the leadership of Armenia realize that Azerbaijan will
never allow violating its territorial integrity, although Armenia is
trying to put forth unrealistic claims.
"The truth is that Azerbaijan's territorial integrity is not a subject
of discussion and Upper Garabagh will never be granted the status of
independence," Aliyev said.
He said Armenia is currently trying to annex Upper Garabagh, which
is impossible.
"I may want to annex Azerbaijani historic land - the Irevan Khanate
(currently the territory of Yerevan) to Azerbaijan. But this is not
realistic now," the president said.
Aliyev did not rule out that a new war will be launched if the Garabagh
conflict is not settled in peace.
"We see that the Armenian side is acting insincere in talks. We should
therefore be prepared for all options. Azerbaijan's increasing economic
potential military power, regional situation and our ever-growing
world image certainly puts us at a prevalent position.
This will be more evident as years go by. Armenia should realize this
and will bear responsibility for any possible consequences."*