Assa-Irada,
11, April 2008

The self-proclaimed Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh republic can never be involved in talks on settling the conflict with Armenia as a party, the Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry spokesman Khazar Ibrahim said.

US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group brokering peace talks Matthew Bryza cited the possibility in a recent statement.

"Regardless of what Matthew Bryza said, talks are under way between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the self-proclaimed regime's participation in them is impossible," the spokesman said.

Ibrahim stressed that the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of Upper Garabagh could join the negotiating process in the future, but some key issues must be resolved first. "For this to happen, first of all, Armenian occupying forces must withdraw from Azerbaijan's territories. Afterwards, the displaced persons are to return to their native land. Only after this can the two communities join the negotiations on certain issues. But in any case, a final document [peace accord] is to be signed between Azerbaijan and Armenia," Ibrahim said.

Both the Armenian leaders and the country's parliament have no intention to recognize Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. The issue was tabled at the Armenian parliament on Thursday as the MPs discussed the speaker's statement on the Garabagh settlement. Tigran Torosian had maintained that the mediating OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, while neglecting the enforcement of "two principles" of conflict resolution, have cited only the territorial integrity in their recent statements. The speaker expressed particular discontent with the US co-chair Bryza's activity.*