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Elmar Mammadyarov: Unfortunately, Armenia has again put on the table some issues that we thought were agreed

11 November 2009 10:33 (UTC +04:00)

The negotiations have been continuing on the basic principles for five years,â€ Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said, APA reports.

â€œOf course, some nuances have been removed. But unfortunately, Armenia has again put on the table some issues that we thought were agreed. Under these circumstances, it is very hard to hold negotiations. We are ready for improvement, but do not know whether Armenia indeed wants this improvement, or it will remain the topic of discussions,â€ Elmar Mammadyarov said.

Asked about the regions to be released in the first stage and the status, Elmar Mammadyarov said Azerbaijan supports solution to the conflict by stages.
â€œFirst of all, Armenian troops should be withdrawn from the occupied territories, then communications restored, IDPs should return, peace and stability should be established, economy developed, only after that the status of the Nagorno Karabakh should be determined. Azerbaijan is always ready to give high status to Nagorno Karabakh. Both Azerbaijani and Armenian communities living in Nagorno Karabakh will determined the status. But in all cases, this status will be determined within the framework of Azerbaijanâ€™s territorial integrity,â€ he said.

The minister reminded about existing analogues of status determination in the world. â€œTatar Republic and Bashkiria determined their status within the Russian Federation. There are examples in Europe as well. For example, Hungarians did it in Slovakiaâ€.

Mammadyarov said the negotiations were going in difficult condition and Armenia wanted to specify status issue right now despite that it should be last phase. â€œI donâ€™t believe that we have to pass directly to last phase todayâ€.

The minister said withdrawal of troops from the occupied lands was the main issue. â€œIt will be impossible to restore communication if the Armenian troops are not withdrawn from the occupied lands. What peace, economy or relations could be a question of talks in this case? Therefore, in first phase, the troops must be withdrawn. Just the withdrawal of troops will open the way to other issues. But Armenia wants to determine more conditions before the withdrawal of troopsâ€.

Mammadyarov mentioned the OSCE researches in Lachin region and said the OSCE representatives were preparing inquiry about use of Lachin corridor.

The minister said the issue of temporary status was also focused at the negotiations. â€œWe have to determine what condition we must create for peaceful co-existence of Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of Nagorno Karabakh. They must have police, authorities, executive powerâ€¦ All these issues are the subjects of negotiationsâ€.