Friday, March 22 2019 12:15

ArmInfo."The assertion of the Prime Minister of Armenia that "the proposal to return  Nagorno-Karabakh to the negotiating table is not a proposal to change  the format, but to restore the negotiation format" requires  explanation, since there are no documents and decisions that could  support its reasonableness.

"Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry made the remarks in light of a statement by the Prime Minister of Armenia saying that that "the proposal to return Nagorno-Karabakh to the  negotiating table is not a proposal to change the format, but to  restore the negotiation format", Trend reports.

The unequivocal position of the world community, reflecting the  unchanged format of the negotiation process on the Nagorno-Karabakh  conflict, serves as a serious message for Armenia, as stated in the  commentary of Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

"In light of this, the latest statement of the OSCE Minsk Group  co-chairs should be reiterated, in which they unequivocally supported  the invariance of the format of the negotiation process. Similar  statements were made by high-ranking officials of the EU. This  position of the world community serves as a serious message for  Armenia, and also testifies to the support of the grounded position  of Azerbaijan," the commentary says.

It is noted that nevertheless, in order to clarify the realities of  the negotiation process, it is considered necessary to pay attention  to the following issues:

"First, UN Security Council resolutions 822, 853, 884 and 884  unequivocally confirm the sovereignty, territorial integrity and  inviolability of the international borders of the Republic of  Azerbaijan, and also demand the immediate, complete and unconditional  withdrawal of Armenian occupying forces from the territories of  Azerbaijan. These resolutions form the legal basis of the resolution  of the conflict." "Second, let us take a look at the decision of the  additional meeting of the CSCE Council of Ministers in Helsinki from  March 24, 1992. As is known, in this document, the OSCE  Chairman-in-Office is charged to convene a peace conference in Minsk  on the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and in  this regard, the document states: "Elected and other representatives  of Nagorno-Karabakh will be invited to the Conference as interested  parties by the Chairman of the Conference after consultation with the  States participating at the Conference." The elected and other  representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh mentioned here are referring to  both the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of the Nagorno-Karabakh  region of our country, and it is these communities that are mentioned  in the document as interested parties. Let us remind that in the  latest statement of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, there is a  reference to both communities precisely as to the parties concerned.  As to inviting interested parties to the Minsk conference, which is  supposed to be convened after the withdrawal of the Armenian armed  forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, the invitation of  both communities of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of our country as  interested parties can be considered, of course, when an appropriate  agreement is reached."

"Third, we cite an exact quote from the decision of the OSCE Budapest  Summit of 1994: "Deploring the continuation of the conflict and the  human tragedy involved, the participating States welcomed the  confirmation by the parties to the conflict of the cease-fire agreed  on 12 May 1994 through the mediation of the Russian Federation in  co-operation with the CSCE Minsk Group. They confirmed their  commitment to the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security  Council and welcomed the political support given by the Security  Council to the CSCE's efforts towards a peaceful settlement of the  conflict," the commentary says.

"It is emphasized that the cease-fire agreement reached on May 12,  1994, referred to in the Summit decision, was confirmed by Azerbaijan  and Armenia as parties to the conflict, in accordance with the  above-mentioned decision of the CSCE Council of Ministers in Helsinki  from March 24, 1992, as well as the leaders of Azerbaijan and the  Armenian community of the Nagorno Karabakh region of Azerbaijan as  "interested parties" in the resolution of the conflict."

Thus, the time spent on searching for such unfounded allegations  nullifies the efforts made for the advancement of the negotiation  process, undermining the success of the peace process and ensuring  the sustainable development of the region.  Currently, we are  experiencing the very moment when the Armenian leadership should  clearly demonstrate what it prefers to spend time on," the commentary  says.