A senior presidential official has dismissed comments that Armenian and Azerbaijan should resolve the Karabakh conflict themselves.
The head of the foreign relations department at the Presidential Administration, Novruz Mammadov, made the comments as he reviewed work done in 2011 to solve the conflict.
The international community, particularly the heads of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing states, should change their position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Mammadov said.
"We have witnessed all the processes of this conflict - the occupation of Azerbaijani lands. Having witnessed this, the West says that the sides should solve the problem themselves and the international community will support them. And this sounds ridiculous in the system of international relations. This cannot last long. They should take a clear position, and get the Armenian troops withdrawn from the occupied territories under the UN Security Council resolutions. If there is international law, it must be applied. Then the co-chairs will know what they need to do and take the necessary steps," Mammadov said.
Speaking at the OSCE Ministerial Council earlier this week, ministers from the Minsk Group co-chairing countries - France, Russia and the USA - expressed regret that Azerbaijan and Armenia had been unable to take the "decisive step" of finalizing the basic principles, also known as the Madrid principles, for a settlement to the conflict.
Novruz Mammadov blamed Armenia for the failure to make progress.
"The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs understand very well that the talks and steps taken have not produced the desired results. Talks were initially held based on the Prague process and later based on Madrid principles for over seven years. There were great hopes for significant progress in the conflict resolution in June this year.
"However in the course of the talks, the international community, the co-chairs themselves and even the Russian president, who also attended the talks, once again witnessed that the Armenian side uses various pretexts to delay the negotiating process. All proposals made by Armenia are unacceptable in the international community," Mammadov claimed.
"As you know, the heads of state of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries issued various statements this year. In accordance with these statements, the Azerbaijani side adopted the Madrid principles and demonstrated the will to solve the problem. Therefore, the Minsk Group co-chairs also believe that it is high time to take serious steps," he continued.
"The co-chairs have made unfruitful visits to the region for over 20 years. Is there is a need for this group to continue to operate if professional politicians from each state fail to join this process and take productive steps? I believe that given the above, the co-chairs should work to develop new and serious steps."
Asked about Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian’s remarks that Azerbaijan creates obstacles to monitoring in the region and that the status quo should be maintained, Novruz Mammadov again blamed Armenia.
"It is commonplace for the Armenian side to make such remarks. They often use similar tactics to delay the negotiating process. The international community is also well aware that the Armenian side from time to time spreads such false information to disrupt the process to tackle the problem and puts forward unacceptable proposals.
"Despite Armenia’s statements aimed at conflict resolution, it does not take any steps in that direction because they do not want to. If the Armenian side believes that making such statements from time to time is useful for it, it is wrong. Perhaps some members of the Armenian government seek to stay in power through such methods. This is a great tragedy for the Armenian people. What is most ridiculous and absurd is that, aware of their tragedy, they remain committed to this,” Mammadov said.
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