Foreign Minister: Armenia’s position on basic principles on Karabakh clear

June 9, 2011 - 17:17 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group Robert Bradtke (USA), Igor Popov (Russia), Bernard Fassier (France) and Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office.

The Co-chairs briefed Nalbandian on the outcomes of meetings held in Baku and Stepanakert, expressing hope that a progress will be achieved in Kazan with respect to reconciliation of the basic principles for the Karabakh conflict resolution.

Mr. Nalbandian said for his part that Armenia has given a clear answer to the recent version of the basic principles submitted by the Co-chairs. If Azerbaijan is ready to give an unequivocal consent to the recent version, the expected progress can be reached, he noted.

Nalbandian went on saying: “Are the Azerbaijani officials’ statements, which distort the essence of negotiation process after Deauville and are based on invented details about stationing of peacekeepers and other matters, an evidence of Baku’s readiness to agree to the suggestions without changes and amendments, what is urged by the Co-Chairs?”

The parties also discussed preparatory works for the upcoming trilateral meeting of the Presidents in Kazan, the RA MFA press service reported.

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.