BAKU: NA believe Armenia to retreat from non-constructive position

Trend, Azerbaijan
Nov 28 2009

Azerbaijani parliamentarians believe Armenia to retreat from its
non-constructive position
28.11.2009 15:00
Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 28 / Trend News K. Zarbaliyeva /

Azerbaijani parliamentarians believe that Armenia will retreat from
its non-constructive position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"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 News on Saturday.

The process of negotiations on the Karabakh settlement was once again
intensified.The Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents, foreign ministers
of both countries have recently met several times.

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.

Mirzazade said that current situation in the country will force the
Armenian leadership to withdraw from its positions.

"Armenian unconstructive position harms itself. The population left
the country. Its economy is not growing. The independence is under
doubt. The crisis promoted to reduce its budget from 3 to 2 billion
for the last three years. The real situation will force Armenia to
make this objective action," MP said.

The agreement on solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be
concluded till late May 2010, Azerbaijani Former Prime Minister, Panah
Huseynov, told Trend News.

"Azerbaijan wil face serious tests till May. They are also connected
with the adoption of protocols in the Turkish parliament. But,
whatever decision is made, the country will not yield its positions.
The Azerbaijani society must be intensified at the same time," MP
said.

Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward
Nalbandian signed the Ankara-Yerevan protocols in Zurich Oct. 10.

These protocols have not been ratified by the parliaments of both sides yet.