Day.az website, BBC Monitoring Service,
14, May 2008

A Day.az correspondent has asked Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov to express once again the country's position of principle on the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.

Azimov said that Azerbaijan's position is rather well known because it had been clearly and firmly stated at the highest level on numerous occasions.

Nevertheless, the main points of principle can be briefly expressed in the following order:

1. The conflict should be settled within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and there is no alternative to this approach;

2. The aim of the conflict settlement is not only the return of seven districts adjacent to Nagornyy Karabakh. The main goal is the complete restoration of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and the preservation of Nagornyy Karabakh within Azerbaijan while ensuring its relevant status. The return of the seven districts adjacent to Nagornyy Karabakh does not ensure the final resolution of the conflict;

3. Self-determination can be implemented only within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. The international law provides for the application of this principle precisely in the form of internal self-determination. International law in no way provides for and gives ground for the secession of a part of a state's territory without that state's consent;

4. To define the status of Nagornyy Karabakh, the Azerbaijani population that was banished from there should be returned to their homes and they should have guarantees that their lives and security will be equal to that of the Armenian population. Only after that can one speak about the determination of status;

5. The road going through Lacin should be equally available for use by both sides. That is a guarantee of the normal, safe and stable functioning of this transport link;

6. With the purpose of developing Nagornyy Karabakh, Azerbaijan is ready to take all measures for the good of the two communities that will live in that region. The occupation of Azerbaijan's territories by Armenia is the main obstacle to transition to this phase;

7. The principles of Azerbaijanis' return to Nagornyy Karabakh, the handover of the road going through Lacin for use by both sides and the determination of the region's status within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan should be inserted in the draft of the main principles of the conflict settlement. Only in this case will the discussions yield results;

8. Nagornyy Karabakh should remain part of Azerbaijan. That will lead to the settlement of the conflict and the restoration of normal relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. If Armenia chooses a different path, then it will gain nothing but enmity and isolation.