Azerbaijani FM hails adoption of updated Madrid principles by Yerevan

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov welcomed adoption of the updated Madrid principles on settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict by Yerevan.

"We continue to negotiate on them. The working suggestions that were offered by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs throughout this process were repeatedly made and the same proposals were made now," Armenian FM said.

"This will create an opportunity to continue the negotiation process and begin work on a large treaty on the settlement of the conflict," the minister told journalists at a news conference.

According to him, the Minsk Group co-chairs has not yet contacted with the minister.

"We need to discuss further steps with the mediators," Mammadyarov added.

The Madrid principles remain at the negotiating table, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said on March 18.

"We continue to negotiate on them. The working suggestions that were offered by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs throughout this process, were repeatedly made and the same proposals were made now," Armenian FM said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the occupied territories.


/Trend News/