May 24, 2002 - 23:39 AMT
ACCORDING TO BAKU MEDIA, KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT NEW PROJECT STIPULATES ARMENIANS' CONTROL OF LACHIN REGION
According to Baku media, the Minsk group co-chairs have introduced a new project of the peaceful agreement on Karabakh to the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaderships for consideration. Particularly "Zerkalo" newspaper has the information that the content of the package of suggestions does not have anything new and repeats the ideas that were in the basis of the previous variants of the conflict settlement only. According to the article in the today issue of the newspaper, the plan stipulates the transfer of all the regions controlled by the NKR defense army but the Lachin region to Azerbaijan by the Armenian side. The Lachin Corridor joining Karabakh and Armenia is placed under the control of Nagorno Karabakh that formally remains in Azerbaijan's structure and is given the main attributes of independent state. The author of the article reminds that Armenians insist on stipulating of the concrete guarantees in the agreement stating that when the peacekeeping forces leave the Lachin corridor, it will not be placed under the control of the Azeri central leadership. This requirement, according to "Zerkalo" commentator, is not acceptable for Baku as, in essence, it stipulates "change of the borders". In this sense, "Zerkalo" considers the new suggestions of the mediators less dangerous. Meanwhile, the publishers of another Baku newspaper "Yenhi Musavat" have information that the new suggestions of the Minsk group are based on the Paris principles refused by Azerbaijan. The super states are ready to put pressure upon Aliyev in order to make him accept the Paris principles, "Musavat" party deputy chairman Sulkhadin Akper noted in his interview with the newspaper.