The Madrid Principles must not be changed, Novruz Mammadov, Head of the Foreign Relations Department, Azerbaijani Presidential Administration, said in his interview with news website owned by the Yeni Azerbaijan (New Azerbaijan) Party.

“The wording of the Madrid Principles is the same, but the term &‘revised’ makes them sound somewhat different. The point is insignificant changes in the principles, which we are discussing. Anything new can be said after the Armenian side’s position is clear. So we have to wait a little,” Mammadov said.

According to him, the Madrid principles are not Azerbaijan’s position. “The proposals were prepared by the West, that is, by the co-chairs. At the initial stage Azerbaijan was not satisfied with the principles. We added some proposals to the principles. We actually approved them after 18-month discussions. If you remember the situation a few years ago, you will see the Armenian side welcomed the Madrid principles. But a most strange situation developed – Azerbaijan approved the Madrid principles after long-lasting discussions, but Armenia changed its position.”

T.P.