Mamedyarov once again started talking about substantive negotiations

ArmInfo.Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov touched upon the reaction of his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian to the statement of the American  co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group Richard Hoagland on the six elements of the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

In particular, Mammedyarov stated that the Akvilles, Muskok and Los  Cabos statements of the heads of state of the OSCE Minsk Group  co-chairs reflected the main elements of the stage-by-stage  settlement of the conflict on the basis of the Helsinki Final Act.  "And these elements constitute the fundamental basis of the updated  Madrid principles. These principles were once again underlined by the  co-chair of the United States, Richard Hoagland. The first step in  the consistent implementation of these mutually complementary  principles is the withdrawal of Armenian troops from the occupied  territories. Eliminating the fact of occupation, it is necessary to  return the internally displaced persons to their native lands and  take appropriate security measures. It should also be noted that  Armenia does not comply with the requirements of the relevant UN  Security Council resolutions adopted in connection with the  conflict," the Foreign Minister said.

At the same time, Mammadyarov said that if the Armenian side  recognizes that these principles are not new and it accepts them,  then it is already necessary to start substantive negotiations with a  view to discussing the details. "The Armenian people will be able to  take advantage of opportunities for cooperation that may arise in  connection with the settlement of the conflict. The Azerbaijani side  has repeatedly stated that it is ready for serious talks on changing  the status quo, which was declared unacceptable at the level of the  heads of state of the co-chairmen, an early settlement of the  conflict and ensuring sustainable peace in the region," concluded  Mammadyarov.  To note, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian,  commenting on Hoagland's statement, noted that the American  co-chairman did not say anything new on the Nagorno-Karabakh  settlement. "The American mediator did not say anything new, he said  what the co-chair countries talked about. If you look at the five  statements of the intermediaries, then nothing new is said about  these items. Armenia has already expressed its position on these five  statements. It is another matter that Azerbaijan avoids in any way  publicize its position on these formulations. Moreover, it not only  avoids, but also pretends that there are no such proposals,  principles or elements," Nalbandian told journalists.

On the eve, late at night, the leaving US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk  Group, Richard Hoagland (who will be replaced by Charge d'Affaires at  the US Mission to the International Organizations in Vienna, Andrew  Chauffer), published 6 elements on the settlement of the Karabakh  conflict. According to the report, taking into account the complex  history of the Karabakh conflict sides should in the future to fix  its final legal status on the basis of consensus and legally binding  expression of will. And before that territory within the  administrative borders of the former Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous and  not under the control of Baku must obtain a temporary status, which,  at a minimum, provides guarantees of security and sovereignty.

The "occupied territories" around Nagorno-Karabakh, according to the  statement, should be transferred under the control of Baku. There  cannot be any settlement without taking into account Azerbaijan's  sovereignty, the report says. "The power of Azerbaijan over these  territories should be restored," the text says.

The next item is discussed the creation of a land corridor between  Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, which should be "wide enough" for the  safe transport, but can not occupy the entire territory of Lachin  region.

A long-term settlement should ensure the right of all forcibly  resettled and refugees to places of early residence, the statement  said.

And the last point is negotiating the creation of international  security guarantees, which includes a long- term settlement. These  guarantees, according to the statement, should include peacekeeping  operations.  "There is no scenario in which the world could be  provided without well-organized peacekeeping activities that enjoy  the confidence of all parties," the statement said.