Armenia remained true to its principles in Karabakh settlement

PanARMENIAN.Net - During the year 2007 Armenia was an active participator in peaceful talks for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, says the annual report issued by the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.



The document says, in part, "Armenia remained true to its principles in the Karabakh settlement basing on international recognition of Karabakhi people's right to self-determination. Official confirmation of this fact will offer possibility for resolving the problem and liquidating its consequences. Talks in the format of Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan were continued in 2007. Meetings were held in Moscow in January, in Geneva in March and in Belgrade in April. Separate consultations with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs, who visited the regions to discuss position of the three parties to conflict and possibilities of presidential meetings.



In February the international mediators issued a joint statement calling on the sides to refrain from initiatives beyond the Minsk Group framework which can have negative impact on the process.



At an informal summit in Potsdam, the G8 leaders lent support to the OSCE MG efforts and called on the sides to reach an agreement on base principles as soon as possible.



The Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan met during a CIS informal summit in Saint Petersburg.



In June, by initiative of Ambassador of Armenia and Azerbaijan to Russia, Armenian and Azeri intellectuals paid a call to Stepanakert, Yerevan and Baku. This visit appeared as a trust-building measure between the two peoples.



In July, the OSCE MG Co-chairs called on the sides to proceed with the talks on the basis of proposed principles and work for real progress in the coming months.



After the Saint Petersburg presidential meeting, the OSCE MG mediators gave preference to shuttle diplomacy.



In November, during a meeting attended by Russian FM Sergei Lavrov, French FM Bernard Kouchner and U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns, the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers were handed a package of proposals on base principles of the conflict settlement.



In Madrid, Armenian and Azeri Foreign Minister held a meeting with OSCE CiO Miguel Angel Moratinos.



Despite commitments to continue talks, Azerbaijan did not stop efforts to transfer the Karabakh issue to other international structures. It did not abandon military rhetoric and anti-Armenia propaganda either and kept hampering the work of international organizations in the region.



Armenia, for its part, counterbalanced this policy and succeeded in strengthening the right of Karabakhi people to self-determination."