OPENING OF TURKEY-ARMENIA BORDER WILL DELAY LIBERATION OF OCCUPIED TERRITORIES: AZERBAIJANI DEPUTY FM
Today.Az
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Oct 21 2009
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov says three principles
of international law – territorial integrity, non-use of force and
self-determination are reviewed and the territorial integrity of the
countries and inviolability of the borders remain as a background of
those principles as a common denominator.
Deputy Foreign Minister Azimov answered the questions about the
principles of solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in an interview
with Azerbaijan-based ATV television channel.
"The self-determination shouldn’t lead to division of the country
or separation of the borders without the country’s permission. The
self-determination is not independence. This right can be provided
only within the territorial integrity and can be reviewed as a
internal self-determination and valued as a norm in the international
experience".
"In negotiations with Armenia, Azerbaijan, in accordance with the
position of constructive conflict resolution on a reciprocal basis, is
prepared as a common denominator to move from the position of vertical
submission to position of determining status of self-governance of
the population of Nagorno-Karabakh region through implementation of
self-determination within the framework of territorial integrity,"
Azimov said.
"We expect the same approach from Armenia which must abandon its
maximalist position to demand independence for Nagorno Karabakh to the
detriment of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and agree to the
proposed common denominator – the realization of self-determination
within the framework of territorial integrity. This is called
compromise, and assessed as a constructive approach. Without the
consent of Azerbaijan, it is impossible to change territory and borders
of Azerbaijan. Thus, Armenia has two options – it agrees with the
continuation of the present situation, or accepts the above-mentioned
denominator as a basis for settlement of the conflict.
So far, we see no clarity on the part of Armenia in this matter,"
Azimov said.
"With regard to status, we should emphasize that determining of status
must be impartial, it should be implemented in impartial conditions.
The concept of impartial conditions include eliminating factor
of occupation and return of all territories, restoration of
infrastructure and return of population, especially the Azerbaijanis
of Nagorno Karabakh. The question can not be resolved without return
of Azerbaijanis to the territories liberated from occupation, the
status of Nagorno-Karabakh can be determined only with participation
of the entire population of the region. In this region, people must
once again live together, cooperate in a peaceful environment, build
good neighborly relations drawing away from the hostile sentiment. In
such circumstances, one can move to the issue of status determination.
Once again I would like to emphasize that to determine the status,
occupation factor must be eliminated, roads must be restored and
cooperation should replace of enmity," Azimov said.
"Before that happens, to resolve important tasks facing us, it is
planned to take measures in the appropriate sequence of actions to
liberate the territories, to return the population, resume cooperation
in the realization of which Azerbaijan will have to cooperate with
the Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh. After liberation of the
occupied territories, central authorities of Azerbaijan will be ready
to implement socio-economic measures to benefit both the Azerbaijani
and Armenian population of the region. After the return of Azerbaijanis
to Nagorno-Karabakh, conditions must be provided for their residence
and establishment of relations with Armenian neighbors. At the same
time, conditions should be created for cooperation between Armenia
and the Azerbaijani side in Nagorno-Karabakh," Azimov added.
"In addition, a number of international organizations will implement
different programs in Karabakh within a certain period. In order
to implement all these measures, cooperation and ensuring equal
residence of populations of the region is expected to take place
before determining final status and application of interim agreements
(temporary status). This in turn will provide both communities – the
Azerbaijani and Armenian – in the region with equal conditions and
rights and their protection. At a certain stage of the negotiation
process, representatives of the Nagorno-Karabakh population of both
communities will be in the proper order involved in the process in
order to participate in discussion and resolution of issues directly
impacting their interests," he said.
Azerbaijani deputy foreign minister said despite the fact that the
right to return to their homes of people who were forcibly expelled
from their places of residence is recognized as one of the principles
in the conflict resolution, a number of issues still need to be
clarified.
"So, for more than 20-year history of the conflict, certain part of the
population from each of the parties was forced to change their place
of residence. However, among this population, along with the refugees
from Armenia and Azerbaijan there is a special, most affected group
who lives only in Azerbaijan, as in the side which has been subject to
aggression and ethnic cleansing, and comprises about 700,000 people –
a group of internally displaced persons. Thus, the problem of refugees
from both sides will be resolved on a reciprocal basis in subsequent
phases. However, the problem of internally displaced persons is
one-sided, because only Azerbaijan faced consequences of occupation."
"Attempts by the Armenian side in any way to balance this issue are
not constructive and are not acceptable. The occupied territories
should be freed, displaced people should return to their places of
permanent residence. Recognition of their right of return is not
sufficient. Return of internally displaced persons should be ensured
by Armenia as a commitment. This question applies particularly
Azerbaijanis excelled from Nagorno-Karabakh as their return to the
region is of the special legal and political significance, because
only their return will eliminate the consequences of ethnic cleansing
and will create impartial conditions to determine the status. This
approach is imperative both in terms of norms and principles of
international law and ethical norms and values of humanism."
"One of the important factors in resolution of the conflict is the
opening of roads and borders, where the first principle will be
the simultaneous opening of all roads and borders, while a second
will be opportunity to open them only after liberation of occupied
territories. In particular, given the link of this issue to the
opening of the border between Turkey and Armenia it should be noted
that the opening of the borders will unilaterally delay liberation
of the occupied territories and, thus, complicates the return of
Azerbaijanis to Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding territories.
Constructively speaking, we propose opening of the Turkish-Armenian
border as part of settlement of the conflict simultaneously with
the liberation of the occupied territories and to make use of roads,
especially the Lachin corridor available for all sides. This principle
should be adopted and approved at this early stage. Without this,
process of settlement of the conflict will be even more difficult,"
Azimov said.
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