Azerbaijan Welcomes Statement of OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs - Foreign Ministry

Baku / 10.03.19 / Turan: Azerbaijan welcomes the statement of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, which is a signal to Armenia. The official spokesperson for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, Leyla Abdullayeva, commented on the statement by the co-chairs on March 9, in which they called for restraint on the line of contact of the troops and recalled the principles and elements of a settlement previously put forward by the mediators.

She noted that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs prepared proposals in connection with the meeting of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia.

"I would like to note that Azerbaijan is committed to the negotiation process and is always ready for substantive negotiations. The Azerbaijani side supports the efforts of the co-chairs in the area of ​​conflict resolution through intensive negotiations aimed at achieving a result," continued Abdullayeva.

She recalled that Ilham Aliyev and Nikol Pashinyan had already met three times, and the Foreign Ministers met four times.

"This statement of the Minsk Group co-chairs serves as a signal for Armenia, and we welcome it. By accepting the Minsk Group co-chairs, President Ilham Aliyev brought to the attention the position of our country. Negotiations on the settlement of the conflict are held between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The format of the negotiations remains unchanged. Attempts to attract the notorious regime created in the occupied territories of our country to negotiate and change the format are unacceptable," Abdullayeva said.

She drew attention to the fact that the statement of the co-chairs indicated the steps that should be taken in connection with the settlement of the conflict. As one of the initial steps, liberation of the territories adjacent to the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan from occupation is envisaged, as well as the return of internally displaced persons to their homes.

"As for the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, it can become a topic of discussion without violating the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Having repeatedly stated its position on this issue, Azerbaijan stated that both communities of Nagorno-Karabakh - Azerbaijanis and Armenians should determine the status of this region within the framework of the territorial integrity of our country. As is known, the principle of self-determination of peoples should not violate the principle of the territorial integrity of states. In a statement, the co-chairs also adopted the Helsinki Final Act. This document notes the need for "respect for the self-determination of peoples in accordance with the principles and objectives of the UN Charter, consistent with the norms of international law, including the territorial integrity of states," the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman further notes.

As for the interested parties in the negotiation process to resolve the conflict, they are the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, which have equal rights, Abdullayeva summarized.

In the statement, the co-chairs affirmed that "a just and lasting settlement" should be based on "the basic principles of the Helsinki Final Act, including, in particular," not using or threatening with the use of force "," respecting territorial integrity "and" equal rights and self-determination of peoples ". In addition, the process should include additional elements proposed by the Presidents of the co-chair countries in 2009-2012, including: the return of the territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh under the control of Azerbaijan; the temporary status of Nagorno-Karabakh, providing guarantees of security and self-government; the corridor connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh; the future determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh through a legally binding expression of will; the right of all internally displaced persons and refugees to return to their former places of residence; and international security guarantees, which will include a peacekeeping operation. -06D--