Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry positive assesses statement by Warlick

If Armenian armed forces will be withdrawn from the occupied territories , many problems can be solved , said on  Thursday Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov , commenting on yesterday's speech by the  U.S.co-chair  in the  OSCE Minsk Group, James Warlick .

He confirmed that the six elements outlined  by Warlick  on  the conflict settlement were agreed in 2009 and are the basis of the updated Madrid principles .

"Azerbaijan is ready to work on these principles in order to achieve lasting peace,"  he said, and  called "positive" statement  by Warlick.

Mammadyarov said that Azerbaijan's territorial integrity is not negotiable, and noted that the peace agreement will open up additional economic opportunities for the region, will enable people to return to their homeland and save Armenia from isolation.

He confirmed that within  the settlement peacekeeping force should be placed in the region.

Speaking at the Carnegie Institution in Washington, Warlick said that the settlement of the conflict involves determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh through a mutually agreed and legally binding expression of will.

In addition, the Nagorno-Karabakh within the borders of Nagorno-Karabakh should be granted interim status for security and self-government.

Territory of Nagorno-Karabakh must be returned to Azerbaijani control.  There should be a  corridor connecting Armenia with Nagorno Karabakh providing safe passage , but not covering the entire Lachin . Refugees should  return to their former homes, and a peacekeeping operation should be carried out. -02D-