BAKU, MOSCOW (Combined Sources)—The participation of Karabakh in the peace talks at this juncture is “out of the question,” said Azeri Foreign Ministry spokesman Elkhan Polukhov Tuesday, after the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan reportedly agreed to a preamble of an updated version of the so-called “Madrid Principles” at a meeting with their Russian counterpart Monday in Sochi.
“There is no doubt that the Armenian community of Nagorno Karabakh will join the negotiations at some point, but, currently, it is out of the question, since it would be wrong and unacceptable to involve a non-party to the conflict in the process,” said Polukhov as reported by the APA news agency.
Polukhov said that reports of Karabakh’s participation in the talks were merely an effort by the Armenian media to “calm the Armenian audience.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Monday announced that presidents Serzh Sarkisian and Ilham Aliyev had agreed to a preamble of the Madrid principles during a meeting with Russian President Demitry Medvedev. Sources close to the process reported that the preamble of the revised principles included a provision on Karabakh’s participation in the talks.
Polukhov said only Armenia and Azerbaijan were sides to conflict and thus the lead parties in the negotiations.
Meanwhile Russian OSCE Minsk Group co-chairman Yuri Merzlyakov reported that Armenia and Azerbaijan will have two weeks to submit their proposals on the provisions of the Madrid principles, on which the parties have not reached a mutual understanding.
Merzlyakov said that after reviewing the proposals, he and his fellow co-chairmen from France and the US would return to the region for further discussions.
None of the sides commented publicly after the tri-lateral meeting in Sochi. However, an Armenia Public Radio reporter observed that the president and foreign minister of Azerbaijan were visibly anxious as they emerged from the meetings.
ArmRadio also reported that when the presidents arrived at the Adler airport to meet the Minsk Group Co-Chairs, Azeri president Aliyev did not event greet reporters, which the radio correspondent viewed as another sign of his irritation.
Apparently, Aliyev had to storm out of the meeting. It could be because he ate some Russian ghazigh and had to go to the toilet. Or, it could be a dog and pony show so as not to anger American Armenians who will be getting for the next election in the US and hide the fact that the Mongolians will be getting back some of the Armenian provinces they had occupied in phases.
Why the clenched left fist aliyev? Is it because you’ve been forced to follow the norms of international law? Get used to it.
He looks like celebrating something inside. Like when one catches fire-bird, and is afraid to lose it by making a wrong gesture.
If Artsakh were introduced as a party of future discussions, there would be no homework due in two weeks, assigned by Merzliakov to Armenia and Azerbaijan.
What will happen if Armenia and Azerbaijan will not submit in two weeks their proposals on the provisions of the Madrid principles? Merzliakov will resign? Two weeks puts us on February 8th. Russians offering a “gift” to Turkey? More facts are speaking for Turkey ratifying the dead protocol.
Yeah Lusik, I don’t like it either that by Feb. 8th Armenia and Azerbaijan to submit their proposals on the provisions of the Madrif principles. No concessions to be made to the loser azeris. Not an inch of land from Artsakh.