Azerbaijan again “shifts the blame” in Karabakh issue

September 25, 2011 - 17:24 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Kazan meeting was followed by zero step ahead in nagorno Karabakh conflict resolution.

“Recently Minister Elmar Mammadyarov had a meeting in New York with MG co-Chairs, but I don’t believe there is any progress, for co-Chairs realize that changes are to occur in the Armenians’ position,” Araz Azimov, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister told journalists on Saturday, Trend reports.

Karabakh conflict negotiation sides failed to reach compromise on a range of issues.

The meeting was held by Russian President Medvedev’s initiative and personal participation. The sides failed to reach common ground on the resolution, despite calls and expectations of Russia, USA and France.

Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian accused Baku of breakdown of talks. According to him, Azerbaijan proved not ready to accept MG co-Chairs’ proposal on the key principles of conflict resolution.

The key principles on Karabakh conflict resolution, named “Madrid Principles”, were introduced to Armenia and Azerbaijan by French and Russian Foreign Ministers and US State Secretary Assistant in November 2007 in Madrid, Spain’s capital.

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.