July 31, 2009 - 19:35 AMT
Azerbaijan's territorial integrity is not mentioned in Madrid principles
"All through the course of negotiations Madrid principles could be viewed as a sign of progress, compared with other documents on NKR conflict settlement. Still, it doesn't mean there are no negative sides to those principles," civil society development committee chairman at RA Public Council, Candidate of Philosophical Sciences Hovhannes Hovhannesyan said.

Among positive sides, Hovhannesyan noted, is that Azerbaijan's territorial integrity is not mentioned in Madrid principles, as Co-Chairs realized that the principle can't be applied in conflict settlement. He emphasized the positive fact of NKR status determination via free will expression, through plebiscite or referendum. According to Hovhannesyan, Azeri part presented distorted facts and off-the-point comments while translating the document.

Madrid principles are unacceptable for Armenia, as the main burden of concessions is loaded on Armenia's shoulders. "Madrid principles do not state NKR should yield the territories, still in my opinion, it wasn't Artsakh who occupied Azeri territories, but just the opposite, Azerbaijan is still occupying NKR territories," Hovhannesyan noted.

As Hovhannesyan noted, Madrid principles is not a final document, they can still be altered in the course of negotiations.