YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–International mediators said on Friday that they have modified their existing plan to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and presented it to the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents ahead of their fresh face-to-face negotiations scheduled for Monday.
The U.S., Russian and French diplomats co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group announced unspecified changes in their “basic principles” of a Karabakh settlement after ending yet another tour of the conflict zone earlier this week.
A joint statement issued by the troika read, “As instructed by their presidents in L’Aquila in July 2009, the Co-Chairs delivered to President [Serzh] Sarkisian, just as they had to President Ilham Aliyev during their visit to Baku in December 2009, an updated version of the Madrid Document of November 2007, containing the Co-Chairs’ latest articulation of the Basic Principles.”
“On January 21, the Co-Chairs met President Aliyev in Baku, Azerbaijan. In their discussions with the Co-Chairs, each president expressed their commitment to continue to pursue a peaceful settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and reaffirmed the seriousness of their side in the negotiations,” the statement said.
The mediators already prepared what they called an “updated version” of the proposed framework agreement when they met in Krakow, Poland in July. Their latest statement did not specify whether the document underwent further changes in the following months.
The so-called Madrid principles provide for the return of seven districts linking Armenia and Karabakh liberated from Azeri occupation during the 1991-1994 Karabakh liberation struggle. They also envisage a future referendum on self-determination in Karabakh that could presumably lead to international recognition of its independence from Soviet Azerbaijan in 1991.
According to sources familiar with the negotiating process, the remaining disagreements between the conflicting parties center on practical modalities of the referendum and time frames for Armenian withdrawal from Kelbajar and Lachin, the districts sandwiched between Karabakh and Armenia. The parties are also understood to disagree on the status of a land corridor that would connect the two Armenian entities.
Aliyev and Sarkisian will again try to overcome these sticking points when they hold a trilateral meeting with Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev in the Russian Black Sea city of Sochi on Monday. According to the Regnum news agency, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed hope on Friday that the two leaders will continue their “intensive dialogue.” Lavrov was careful not to predict a breakthrough in the talks.
Lavrov’s Armenian counterpart, Edward Nalbandian, likewise cautioned against great expectations from the Sochi meeting. He said the peace talks will yield a tangible result only if Azerbaijan takes “a more constructive approach.” “I wouldn’t say that some breakthrough can be expected soon,” Nalbandian told a news conference.
But a senior aide to Aliyev, Norvuz Mammadov, insisted that the onus is on the Armenian side to act more “constructively” and facilitate a peaceful settlement. The APA news agency also quoted him as saying that no documents are due to be signed in Sochi.
I don’t see any conflict!!! gharapagh?? NO “ARTSAKH” let’s clear this firsthand!
I don’t see Artsakh in conflict! Artsakh is in peace. Leave Artsakh alone!! They got their Historic Land Back!! and it’s done! A land that Stalin stole like it’s his and illegally gave to Azeris. Let Russian Government open those documents and show them to the world.
Artsakh historically was even greater territory!! what are these clowns talking about??!!
Artsakh historically was even greater territory!! what are these clowns talking about??!!
VOTCH MEE ZEETCHOOM
In fact I believe ON THE CONTRARY we should DEMAND for OUR REMAINING TERRITORY!!
Let me get this right, we liberate our territories from the mongols, we lose human life and treasure, mothers who sacrificed their sons, all to give it back to the mongolians?
I think it would be in the EU’s best interest to keep the lands liberated from mongolian hands and dictatorship.
Madrid is a good city. However, look what a trash is offered to become a “legal end” of Artsakhians’ fight for basic right of non-being-under-enemy-boots. Madrid principles PROVIDE (very certain) for the return of seven districts linking Armenia and Karabakh …. They ALSO ENVISION (very blurred) a future (1 month? 100 yeas? never?) referendum on self-determination in Karabakh that COULD PRESUMABLY (most likely will not happen!) lead to international recognition of its independence from Soviet Azerbaijan in 1991.
Enough is enough.
A) We have to know names of these badly educated “writers” of international treaties. And put on internet the names of the universities attended, under rubric “AVOID APPLYING”.
B) Does any Artsakhian official ever visited Madrid? Participated in any of these negotiations. The answer is NO! So, the answer will be NO to Madrid, or Barcelona (another good city), or … Protocol. Pardon, principles.
Not even an inch of land must be given back to the azeri pogroms back. If any land like the important Lachin and Kelbajar is given back to the azeri pogroms who NEVER owned those said lands before 10o years when Russia’s Stalin as if it was his, he gave it away to appease the turks. Artsakh was even greater and bigger than what we have it now. NOT EVEN IN INCH OF LAND MUST BE GIVEN BACK TO THE AZERI KILLERS ANNIHILATORS, OTHERWISE OUR PEOPLE IN ARTSAKH WILL BE IN HARMS WAY!!!!!!!
Unless the Armenians of Arstakh agree unanimously on such a treaty, nothing will ever be returned, and nothing should be returned. Those lands neither belonged to the Azeris in the past nor the present, nor did they have any significant population of Azeris living on them. Arbitrarily being “gifted” a chunk of land by a greater regional power does not entitle any government or state to true ownership of such lands, which is exactly what happened with Arstakh during Soviet times, it was “gifted” to the Azeris illegitimately.
The majority, more than 90% of the population was Armenian both at the time that Arstakh was “gifted” to the Azeris and also at the time when the Azeris decided to declare war and attack the people of Arstakh during the people’s war for independence, which the Armenians of Artsakh won despite being outnumbered and outgunned.
Most importantly, the illegitimate “gifting” of Artsakh to the Azeris was made under the stipulation that should the Soviet Union ever become dissolved, the land would become an annexed portion of either Azerbaijan or Armenian based on the population demographic majority inhabiting Arstakh at the time of Soviet de-solution.
When the Soviet Union collapsed, again the demographic of Arstakh was in fact 90% Armenians that staunchly demanded reunion with their motherland, namely Armenia, and rightfully so since it was part of the stipulation made long ago when the land was arbitrarily gifted to the Azeris.
Despite all this, the Madrid principles ignore all of these issues and yet again, those that would benefit from the Madrid principles being implemented, are trying to decide for the people of Armenia, the people of Artsakh, and Armenians of the Diaspora while simultaneously sanctimoniously speaking about “rights to self-determination of peoples” in a ploy to lure, trick, and violate the basic tenets of actual self-determination from the people of Armenia, the people of Arstakh, and the Armenian Diaspora.
We have suffered a Genocide which the world ignored and we still await proper reparations. Our ancestral land was gifted away and we fought to gain it back. Now, again, there are attempts to swindle the Armenian people through fancy deceitful treaties named after fancy European cities that would be the only ones benefiting from such treaties.
Arstakh belongs Armenians and to the Armenians of Arstakh. The Azeris, the EU, the US, and Russia, should come to terms with that rather than try to implement one sided treaties that violate the rights of the Armenian people to self-determination. 10 million Armenians in the Armenian Diaspora, Arstakh, and Armenia are ready to defend and protect every single last inch of land which belongs to no one else than Armenians. Armenians were tricked, swindled, and murdered in the 20th century from their lands and their human rights violated, this will NEVER EVER happen again, and 10 million Armenians stand united to make sure of that for the 21st century. Artsakh is ours, will ALWAYS be ours, and no power on Earth will take it away again with impunity.
The clowns photographed above remind me of Larry, Curly and Moe – the 3 Stooges. Let them continue pontificating.
Armenians must ask for liberation of Nakhichevan from azeri rule. Not an inch of liberated Artsakh lands to azeri-turks. Remember always that turks always remain a turk!
Madrid Principle is the greatest concpiracy perpetureted against survival of
Armenia, Artsakh & entire Armenian nation. The accord suggests 7 region
of Artsakh trnsferd to Azarbaijan,because of Armenias weak leaders to address Armenia
historical & existing evidence, to ownership of the lands, in response to fallacy of Azari long nose leader Alieve, who falsly claims, his country has history Mr Alieve
trying hard to hide Azarbaijan name is stolen by tatar nomads less than 100 years
ago from old Iranian province Azarbaijan Mr Alieve confused, doesnt uderstand in which brand of alphabet write, his name , & his country name, his brain is most of the time boiling inside the skul, may be in the future he will require cooling radiator for his overheating brain, as far as he has oil, oil men love him they will do every
thing to attract his attention, Armenians must be careful of every kind of concpiracy.
1-If Armenia signsMadrid Accord, then must handover Artsakhs 7 region to
Azarbaijan, it will cause encirclment, of Armenia & Artsakh, for which Azarbaijan
were praying long time ego. Armenias defence capabilities will be reduced but Azari
positions multiple time become stronger. together Armenias political values will
drop significantly, nobody should cmmit this grave mistake.
2-After complition 1st stage of land transfer, the mediatores will ask for refrandom
that means fulfilment of madrid principle, open Artsakhs gates & let Azari people rush to Artsakh for vote, this is what Alieve dreaming long time ego, Armenias SS
Troghan Horse posibly will play, to pretend to stop Azari influx, this will be concidered accord violation & Azarbaijan will attack Artsakh & Armenia, the plan will be completed by occupying Artsakh & some parts of Armenia.The other choice for SS Trojan Horse will be, to let Azaris flood Artsakh, with overwhelming
majority, after mission accomplished, & plantiing white flag, will return home.
As i mentioned under cover of refrondom, in madrid accord it will legitimize Azaris
settle in Artakh. NO words for those peaceful Armenians around Azarbaijani cities
butchered,terrorized & deported, think abut extend of concpiracy & how Armenian
leaders handling them. After 20 years oilmen wants fixArtsakh issue with their
brand refrandom, without cocideration for justice & fairness exept for their petrol
agenda, 20 years ago Artsakh people asked for refrandom.but Azaris responded
with bomb & destruction, killing peaceful citizens, even attaking cimetris smashing
grave stones, Artsakh people succsided to restore freedom & democracy, now
Azarbaijan is in preparation of disturbance back again, Armenian people every
where will stand with Artsakh peoplle & will support them.
When Archbishop (see picture on this site with Pargev Martirosyan, Prelate of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church) is donating blood, you better think what is the scale of agression prepared by international offices. These three well groomed old men discuss small vessel into which they plan to seal in the spirit of Artsakhian men and women and children. What a waste of time and taxpayers money!!! Why we do not ring the IRS bell?!