The permanent representation of Azerbaijan at OSCE has presented the stance of our state regarding the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the eve of the 26th meeting of the OSCE Foreign Ministers to be held in Slovakia’s Bratislava.
AZTV.AZ reports that the statement of the representation cites Azerbaijan remains committed to the political resolution of the conflict in the format of the OSCE Minsk Group. It is noted that the legal and political basis for the conflict settlement is reflected in the UN Security Council resolutions – 822 (1993), 853 (1993), 874 (1993) and 884 (1993), as well as the relevant documents and decisions of the OSCE.
The statement also highlights that the conflict settlement is possible only based on norms and principles of international law reflected in the Helsinki Final Act and within the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan Republic and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country: “In the conflict settlement, Azerbaijan is committed to the UN Security Council resolutions, the OSCE decisions, especially the consistent approach based on the 1994 Budapest Summit decisions. The first step is to abolish the challenges of the conflict, thus, it will result in the immediate, full and unconditional withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and the adjacent regions of Azerbaijan, the return of the IDPs to their native lands safely and the return of their properties to them, mutual usage and the opening of all communications in this region for the economic development of these territories”.
It is noted at the end that the next stage of the settlement process is the determination of the self-government status for the population of the Nagorno-Karabakh region in accordance with the Constitution and legislation of Azerbaijan and within Azerbaijan: “This status will provide the peaceful existence of the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities in the region and create opportunities for ensuring all the human rights and freedoms equally without discrimination. The determination of the status will take place peacefully with the full and equal participation of the population of the Nagorno-Karabakh region – both the Azerbaijan, and Armenian communities and in contact with the Azerbaijani government within the framework of the legal and democratic process. Azerbaijan does not see any other political solution to the conflict beyond this framework and participates in the settlement process based on this understanding. The political resolution of the conflict will create conditions for the all-round economic development and mutually beneficial cooperation”.
