Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 3 / Trend E.Tariverdiyeva /
The withdrawal of the Armenian troops from the occupied Azerbaijani lands is likely to be the first step towards a peaceful settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, experts believe.
"If the EU and the USA really want to have geopolitical influence in the region, they can not support only one side of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I am sure that the Armenians will get an ultimatum to return the occupied territories of Azerbaijan," Alexander Rahr told Trend over the telephone from Berlin "It does not cause any questions. Yerevan understands that it is necessary to return the lands."
The withdrawal of the Armenian troops from the occupied Azerbaijani territories in a limited timeframe could be the key to resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said at the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Athens Dec.2.
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 observers, the implementation of one of the Madrid document's principles - the withdrawal of the Armenian forces from the occupied Azerbaijani lands will be the first stage of the peaceful settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The EU and U.S have set a task of stabilizing the situation in the South Caucasus region and establish closer partnership with both Azerbaijan and Armenia, but not limit its relations with Georgia, Russian expert at the German Council of Foreign Relations, the Russia-Eurasia Center director, Alexander Rahr, said.
Entire western policy has been recently aimed precisely at Tbilisi, but now it is time for changes. Rahr said it is necessary for the West to get the support of all countries in the region to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. First, it involves the release of occupied Azerbaijani territories.
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan's speech at the congress of the ruling Republican Party clarifies that a framework document on the Nagorno-Karabakh has been agreed, Head of the Armenian New Times party Aram Karapetyan was quoted as saying by the Armenia Today news agency.
He said that under the document, first five occupied areas then the sixth one should be returned to Azerbaijan and only after that the issue of status will put. The status will be solved by referendum. Karapetyan said that he did not know whether the questions of withdrawal of the Armenian forces and referendum on the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh are in one package.
According to the Azerbaijani MP Aydin Mirzazade, liberation of the Azerbaijani lands can be expected in the near future.
"The negotiation process will force Armenia to abandon its non-constructive position. Sooner or later, Armenia must release the occupied Azerbaijani lands and recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. It will happen soon," New Azerbaijan Party Political Council member, MP Aydin Mirzazade told Trend on Saturday.
The Armenian-Turkish protocols signed by the parties in Zurich Oct.10 may be one of the factors that may affect the resolution of this issue.
Leader of the Turkish Grand Unity Party Yalchin Topchu believes Turkey should keep promises to Azerbaijan and not open the borders with Armenia until the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is resolved.
"Turkey must keep its promises and not to disclose the Turkish-Armenian borders until the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict is resolved," Topchu told Trend over the telephone.
If Armenia seriously wants peace, the country should prove this and withdrew its troops from the occupied Azerbaijani territories unconditionally, he added.
R.Hafizoglu contributed in the article.
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