A key Armenian leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh member has publicly spoken out against the formula of Armenian-Azerbaijani peace is advanced by the United States, Russia and France for almost a decade.
Ara Harutyunyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh proclaimed (NKR), said that the basic principles of the resolution of the Karabakh conflict, also known as the Madrid principles are unacceptable because they call for significant Armenian territorial concessions vis-à-vis Azerbaijan.
The draft framework agreement for peace was formally put forward to the conflicting parties in Madrid in 2006. U.S. diplomats, Russian and French co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk changed repeatedly document since then. Its key elements, repeatedly expressed by the three mediating powers, would be principles remained unchanged.
Basic principles considering the Armenian withdrawal from almost all of the seven Azerbaijani districts around Karabakh that are fully or partially controlled by Karabakh Armenian forces. It would be followed by a referendum in which the majority Armenian population of Karabakh should determine the status of internationally recognized territory.
The administrations of President Serzh Sargsyan and his predecessor Robert Kocharian stated repeatedly that this formula is widely acceptable for Armenia. The reaction of the Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh was much warmer. Yet the leaders of the NKR have so far refrained from publicly reject the proposed principles.
“The Madrid principles are certainly unacceptable for us,” Harutyunyan said at a session of questions and answers on Facebook. He said that “if such a document is finally presented to the public and the government of Artsakh (Karabagh), I do not think he can receive a positive response.”
Harutiunian argued that “liberated territories” which would be populated by Azeris are vital to the security of Karabakh and its economic development. The Government of Karabakh will continue to invest in local infrastructure, has he said.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014,
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