Azerbaijan could only welcome Turkey's co-chairmanship in the OSCE Minsk Group, deputy foreign minister of Azerbaijan Araz Azimov told reporters.
"The Institute of co-chairs is not permanent. At first, the co-chair of the Minsk Group was only one state. From 1994 to 1996 there were two, and since 1997 co-chairmanship has been continuing in the format of three countries, Azimov said. If the format has expanded to the co-chairs of the three countries, then it can take the format of four countries".
The question of Turkey's co-chairmanship in the Minsk Group, which is a mediator in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, has been discussed for long. During his recent visit to Turkey, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev stated the intention of Moscow to, together with Turkey, promote stability in the Caucasus region, and in particular the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"To do this, first of all, Turkey must officially express its desire and conduct discussions on this issue with other co-chairs of the Minsk Group," said Azimov.
According to him, Turkey's co-chairmanship is possible only due to a consensus on this issue.
The Minsk Group currently exists in the format of three countries - France, Russia and the U.S, and has been conducting peace talks to resolve the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict since May 1994, when the sides reached a cease-fire agreement.
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.
Azimov said that Turkey's co-chairmanship to the Minsk Group would be an important factor for Azerbaijan.
"Turkey recognizes and supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and has positioned itself as the strongest supporter of solving the problem taking into account the above principles," said Azimov.
The deputy minister mentioned the stagnation in the negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, which has been observed after a meeting of presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Sochi in January.
"After the meeting of presidents in Sochi, because of the position of Armenian president, stagnation took place in the negotiations, and discussions and meetings do not continue as planned," said Azimov.
Despite the adequate attention of the Minsk Group towards the negotiation process, the negotiations get stuck due to non-constructive position taken by the Armenian side. "To achieve a breakthrough, Armenia's position must change," said Azimov.
Azerbaijan's constructive position is that Azerbaijan considers that until the determination of the final status, the sides could temporarily come to an agreement on the status of communities, because there are both Azerbaijani and Armenian communities in Nagorno-Karabakh," Azimov said. Human rights, freedom of movement should be provided for both communities.
According to Asimov, the Azerbaijani government is ready to start economic activities in the territory of Karabakh, but for this, the lands should be released, the roads should be opened, communications should be restored.
"The Armenian community should have a temporary legal status so that the Azerbaijani government could cooperate with them, he said. The Azerbaijani community, belonging to this region, should also have the same rights."
"NO ISSUE WAS TOTALLY AGREED BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA"
"In the first stage Azerbaijan could offer releasing and returning back five occupied regions, Lachin road and opening Armenian-Turkish border. But only if in the second phase will be returned the remaining areas - the northern part of Lachin and Kelbajar and will be determined returning date, said Azimov.
Azimov notified that if the first phase will begin and finish, then have to be agree on the exact time, date releasing remaining lands: “That is have to agreed when and what areas will be released as a continuous”.
While answering the question about “Is there any agreement with Armenia on the returning 5 region?” Azimov said that Armenia in any case can not escape from responsibility, regardless of the desire will liberate the Azerbaijani lands. "However, no issue was totally agreed" he said.
All questions are still at the consultation stage and this process will underway gradually. For example, if in the first stage will be agreed by the formula 5 +1 +1- 5 regions + Lachin road + boundary - then will be discussed issues about the next stage and will be determine the time of returning Azerbaijani refugees to Karabakh. This is a very principled question for the Azerbaijani side, said Azimov. He noted that if Azerbaijani refuges don’t return to Karabagh Azerbaijan generally can not look through the regulating of the conflict. Azerbaijanis absolutely have to return to Karabagh. It is a conceptual issue. Because if we want to determine the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh within Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, then our refugees have to return to Karabakh and have to take part in this process.
According to Azimov, constructive position of Azerbaijan is that prior to determining the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh, both communities have to reach interim agreements. " Have to ensure freedom, economic cooperation, development of culture and so on for these communities. But Azerbaijani government is ready to start economic activity in Karabakh. But before all should be released the occupied territories, should be opened roads, restored communication, defined temporary legal status of Armenian community for Azerbaijani government be able to cooperate with them. Also have to ensure Azerbaijani community must have equal freedom rights in Karabagh. Azerbaijan’s principles are these, Azimov said.
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