OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to present new proposals during next trip to region: Azerbaijani deputy FM

"The basic principles are discussed by the presidents, but not foreign ministers at current stage. The foreign ministers are only doing preparation work for the negotiations," the Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov said.

"The OSCE Minsk Group is expected to visit the region in near future and present new proposals to the sides," Azimov told reporters.

He said elaboration of the new proposals for the conflict settlement was a progress in a certain sense.

“The negotiations over the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict are going on for a long time. If the progress were an easy work, it would have been reached long time ago."

Touching upon the dynamics in the Azerbaijan-Armenian negotiations Azimov said the presidents met for several times a year.

“I think this is dynamics and sustainability of the meetings enables to say that this is useful process. But the opposite side should know that Azerbaijan is against gaining time and wants effective approach towards the discussions," Azimov added.

In response to a question about new proposals to be presented by con-chairs during their next visit to the region, Azimov said “the steps taken are obvious, but these steps have a principle of consistency."

"The people expelled from their homeland should return, the communications should be restored and the lands should be liberated. The cooperation can not be established before the return of population to their homeland. If there is no cooperation, there is no peace as well. No any status issue could be discussed if there is no peace," the deputy foreign minister noted.

/APA/