Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Spokesman Elkhan Polukhov commented on possible deployment of peacekeeping forces in Karabakh conflict zone recently voiced by Armenian side. He said that while the talks are underway and basic principles for peace agreement are not yet accorded, speaking of peacekeepers’ deployment is early.

“Armenian side has not yet clarified whether it accepts the updated Madrid Principles proposed by OSCE co-chairs, thus it is too early to speak of peacekeeping troops in the conflict zone,” Polukhov stated.

“As not all principles are agreed at the first stage and broad agreement format is undetermined, I think we should not speak of any international observers or peacekeepers. The states and status of representatives that might participate in the process are not discussed at the current stage yet, as these are issues of the second stage of talks implying signing of Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement,”1news.az quotes Polukhov.

Armenian side claims that consented to take Madrid Principles as basis for the talks and there are proposals from various sides. However, Armenia considers that there are no updated Madrid Principles to which Azerbaijan allegedly agreed.

A.G.