STATEMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
June 27 2007
Taking into account the statement that the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group presented to the OSCE Permanent Council, in Vienna, on June
22, and the interview that Matt Bryza, the new US co-chair gave soon
thereafter, where albeit partially, the principles of the settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict were revealed for the first time,
and also taking into account the recent desperate calls by Azerbaijan
for a military solution and autonomy for Nagorno Karabakh, we would
like to make several observations.
1. The co-chairs have partially revealed the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
resolution principles; they have left out references to a corridor
linking Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia, and issues relating to Nagorno
Karabakh’s status until a referendum; 2. The co-chairs have, for
the first time, affirmed that the people of Nagorno Karabakh shall
determine their own future status through a referendum; 3. Those
items over which the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan continue
to disagree does not include a referendum; that concept has been
agreed to by the presidents; The area of disagreement between the
presidents has to do with the sequence in which the consequences
of the military conflict are removed; 4. In an attempt to resolve
this remaining area of disagreement, a proposal was made by the
co-chairs after Rambouillet. This proposal was accepted by Armenia
in Bucharest. Azerbaijan rejected it.
5. Armenia finds that the basic principles, overall, on the table
today remain a serious basis for continuing negotiations; Armenia
is prepared to continue on that basis to continue to negotiate with
Azerbaijan; 6. Armenia believes that Azerbaijan’s wavering on these
principles is a serious obstacle to progress in the negotiations. If
this policy continues, Armenia will insist that Azerbaijan conduct
direct negotiations with Nagorno Karabakh.
7. Finally, we would remind Azerbaijan once again that regardless
of the size of their military budget, they cannot force the
people of Nagorno Karabakh to renounce freedom and the right to
self-determination.