Today a Stalin-Hitler agreement is talked of, and the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact is challenged. On the other hand, agreements between Lenin and Kemal, decisions by Stalin and the political Bureau, which caused a number of so far unsettled problems in the South Caucasus are being consigned to oblivion, RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbadian stated at the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts University, on September 27, commenting on when and how Nagorno-Karabakh was made part of Soviet Azerbaijan.
As regards Azerbaijan’s consent to a version of the Madrid principles and Armenia’s objection to it, Minister Nalbandian said: “The fact is that the three Co-Chairs submitted the Madrid principles to the parties in November 2007. They, as an official proposal, were deposited with the OSCE Secretariat. Thereafter, there were over two dozen working proposals based on the Madrid document. As a result of intense negotiations over the recent months, the last version of the Madrid principles was submitted to the sides in Saint Petersburg, Russia, this July. We stated we were taking it as a basis for negotiations, which was the case with the first version in November 2007. Azerbaijan rejects both the first and the second versions. Azerbaijan stated it could take one of the versions as a basis for negotiations, with some exceptions. However, exceptions turned out to be more than the accepted proposals. What does accepting with exceptions mean? It actually means not accepting. What is Azerbaijan waiting for? Are Armenia and Artsakh to accept their so-called ‘accepted with exceptions’? Well, they call their posture a ‘constructive approach’. However, if no one, except for them, understands this constructive approach, they have to look for the one guilty among themselves. There is an impression that Azerbaijanis have stopped their ears and will not listen to the international community.”
Commenting on the recent violations of ceasefire, Minister Nalbandian said that Azerbaijan has been violating its ceasefire commitments for over 15 years – not only the ceasefire established between Armenia, Artsakh and Azerbaijan in May 1994, but also the trilateral ceasefire consolidation agreement signed on February 4, 1995, under which Baku pledged to refrain from provocative actions and statements. The international community has been making relevant appeals, but Azerbaijan is holding its provocative posture. Even now Azerbaijan is rejecting the appeals by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, and even the one by the U.N. Secretary General, for consolidating the ceasefire and withdrawing snipers from the line of contact. It is clear such a position can by no means create a favorable atmosphere for the peace process, Minister Nalbandian said.
