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Armenia distorts essence of talks on Karabakh conflict – Azerbaijani FM

Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict Materials 14 April 2016 14:33 (UTC +04:00)
Armenia has once again distorted the essence of negotiation process on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in a way convenient for itself
Armenia distorts essence of talks on Karabakh conflict – Azerbaijani FM

Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 14

Trend:

Armenia has once again distorted the essence of negotiation process on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in a way convenient for itself, says Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.

"Armenia's attempts to distort the essence of the negotiation process and present it in a one-sided form once again prove that country's non-serious and destructive attitude towards the conflict's settlement," Mammadyarov told AzerTAg news agency Apr. 14.

He said it is illogical to make claims about invalidity of the document, in particular the updated Madrid principles, which were submitted by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to the OSCE secretary general's depository with the consent of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Mammadyarov said international community is aware of Azerbaijan's stance regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict's resolution.

He said that under the UN Security Council's resolutions, Armenian armed forces should be unconditionally and completely withdrawn from the occupied Azerbaijani lands and Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty should be restored within the internationally recognized borders.

"Azerbaijan has repeatedly expressed readiness to start a political process on a comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on those principles," he added.

"The provocations and military gambles started by the Armenian servicemen on the line of contact on Apr. 2 once again showed that the presence of Armenian armed forces on Azerbaijan's occupied lands is the main reason for escalation of situation and the main threat to peace and stability in the region," said Mammadyarov. "It also shows how fragile is the peace in the region."

"Perhaps, some in Armenia think it is still 1990s in the region," he added. "The region has changed fundamentally."

Mammadyarov said as it can be seen on the example of Azerbaijan, as distinct from Armenia, the region's countries pursue a more full-fledged policy at international and regional levels.

"The sooner Armenian leadership understands the necessity of withdrawing its forces from the occupied Azerbaijani lands, the sooner it will be possible to restore peace and stability in the region," added Mammadyarov.

On the night of April 2, 2016, all the frontier positions of Azerbaijan were subjected to heavy fire from the Armenian side, which used large-caliber weapons, mortars and grenade launchers. The armed clashes resulted in deaths and injuries among the Azerbaijani population. Azerbaijan responded with a counter-attack, which led to liberation of several strategic heights and settlements.

Military operations were stopped on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian armies on Apr. 5 at 12:00 (UTC/GMT + 4 hours) with the consent of the sides, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry earlier said. Ignoring the agreement, the Armenian side again started violating the ceasefire.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

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