Azerbaijan, Baku, May 15 / Trend , A.Huseynbala /
The Azerbaijani opposition party has prepared a draft perspective plan for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
"The plan envisages the conflict settlement process in three phases," the press service of the Liberal Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (LDPA) told Trend on May 15.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
According to the draft, in the first phase all occupied lands, with the exception of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and Lachin region should be freed, the Azerbaijanis should to return to their homes, international peacekeeping contingent should be placed in the region. "These forces will be subordinated to the authorized representative of Nagorno-Karabakh appointed by the UNO," the report says.
The draft says that the peacekeeping forces, which are located in the region, should be presented by Turkey, the United States, Russia and Germany in equal numbers.
According to the authors of the project, the next step is to determine the legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh. "At this stage, the status of autonomous republic shall be presented to Nagorno-Karabakh within the territory of Azerbaijan and the territory shall be declared a demilitarized zone. After this phase is completed, corridors also can be shared. Azerbaijan provides Lachin corridor to Armenia for 99 years, and Armenia provides Megrin corridor to Azerbaijan for the same period. Before this , Azerbaijan and Armenia recognize each other through diplomatic channels and establish diplomatic relations," says the paper.
According to the project of the opposition party, at the third phase elections must be held for local authorities of autonomous republic with the participation of representatives from both communities. "The question of Speaker of the Parliament of the Autonomous Republic should be decided on a rotational basis. At the end of this phase, through the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group Azerbaijan and Armenia should sign another Inter-State agreement on recognition of territorial integrity and inviolability of both sides," the report says.
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