The Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov has suggested that rather than continue discussing the basic principles for the resolution of the Karabakh conflict Armenia and Azerbaijan should concentrate on drafting a peace treaty.
Mamadyarov was quoted by Interfax Azerbaijan as saying that "Azerbaijan is still in the same position that it were after Sochi in 2010. We are ready to begin drafting a peace agreement with the understanding of what has been achieved. Kazan allowed us to move forward. We understood that there are still uncoordinated elements, but in any case they should be reflected in the peace treaty, and if there is actually a free will, then let's work on it immediately, without waiting for the next phase of negotiations on basic principles".
The Minister was quoted as saying that "in Kazan some progress has been made, and we can safely go to a peace agreement"
Asked when Baku was ready to begin negotiations on a peace agreement with Armenia, the minister said: "Right today."
"Many media outlets write that the meeting in Kazan was not successful, but I do not agree with this," Mammadyarov said referring to the Kazan meeting of presidents of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia held on 24 June.
"I agree rather with the position that, firstly, as also reflected in the statement of the presidents, the rapprochement did occur, and, secondly, we - Azerbaijan and Armenia - should continue negotiations with no hysterics and work on rapprochement of positions,” the minister said.
Source: Interfax Azerbaijan with editing from commonspace.eu
