Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend E.Huseynli / The public-political organizations of Azerbaijan is dissatisfied with the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group involved in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement.
"If from the beginning of next year the Minsk Group does not present proposals on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement in accordance with Azerbaijan's position and within the international legal standards, Baku may refuse the mediation service of the Minsk Group," the Head of the Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh, Nizami Bahmanov, reported to Trend on 13 December.
The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since 1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful negotiations.
Despite this period, the Minsk Group made various proposals, Armenia did not give up its uncooperative position. At the end of November the Minsk Group Co-chairs presented written proposals to the conflicting sides. Currently Azerbaijan and Armenia are considering them.
According to Bahmanov, the recent written proposals reflect only the personal position of the co-chairs. He said that if the co-chairs make proposals not corresponding to Azerbaijan's official position, the Country will not accept them. Bahmanov considers that the Azerbaijani side will express its opinion towards the proposals of the Minsk Group during their visit to the region scheduled for January.
Azerbaijan's official position includes regulating the conflict within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Firstly the Armenian Armed Forces should be withdrawn from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, the internally displaced persons should return to their native land and after this the status of Nagorno-Karabakh will be discussed. Bahmanov said that during discussions on the status, the heads of the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of Nagorno-Karabakh would also join the talks.