Withdrawal of Armenian troops from Azerbaijan’s occupied territories has been negotiated: Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry

“Liberation of occupied Azerbaijani territories was subject of negotiations at all times as a its component part,” Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Elkhan Polukhov said.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan recently stated that Armenia has not discussed issues of refugees and seven regions surrounding the Nagorno-Karabakh with Azerbaijan.

“I do not know with whom Azerbaijan has discussed the issues of refugees or seven regions around the “Nagorno-Karabakh Republic” as only status of Nagorno-Karabakh is currently being negotiated,” Nalbandyan said.

“The Madrid Principles as well as the so-called Prague process imply liberation of occupied Azerbaijani territories. Moreover, withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan is one of the issues already agreed upon between the parties,” Polukhov said.

“Often returning to this issue and raising it internal debates, the Armenian side indirectly confirms that such issue was raised and it has been negotiated,” he added.

“Regarding participation of Armenian community of Nagorno-Karabakh in negotiations, Azerbaijan’s stance is that Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of Nagorno-Karabakh will discuss status of the region with leadership of the Azerbaijan Republic after liberation of  occupied territories of Azerbaijan within country’s territorial integrity,” he said.

Armenian foreign minister also said that it is impossible to solve the Nagorno Karabakh conflict without direct participation of the separatist Karabakh in the negotiations.

Day.Az