“Armenia is impeding negotiation process”
Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov blamed Armenian authorities for slowing down the negotiations over the Karabkah conflict.
"I appreciate the position of Armenians negatively because so far Armenia has not expressed position on the updated Madrid principles, offered to the sides by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs in January," Mammadyarov said in Baku.
At the meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan in January in Sochi, the OSCE Minsk Group presented the parties an updated version of the Madrid document, which is the basis for negotiations.
"Within last two years very deep, wide negotiations are being conducted between the sides. The Co-Chairs visit the region every year. They have held nine meetings with Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Alyiev. Azerbaijan accepts this document principally. We are ready to prepare wide peace agreement on the basis of this document. But, up to now, Armenia hasn't answered exactly. Unfortunately, Armenia is impeding the negotiations process. And it is a very negative case. It is already May, and Armenia has not yet expressed its position on the updated document," the minister said.
Mammadyarov underlined that, unlike Armenia Azerbaijan accepts the document and is ready to continue to work towards the long-term peace agreement based on the updated Madrid principles.
The minister noted that he would meet with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs in Venice June 5 during an event dedicated to the anniversary of the Venice Commission to be held in the Italian city
"The Co-Chairs conducted negotiations with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian in Brussels. They will inform me about Armenian position in Venice," said Mammadyarov.
