Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev once again accused Armenia of protracting peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict, addressing the delegates of the UN General Assembly in New York. However, regular habitual phrases about “occupation” of the Azerbaijani territories were interlaced with several interesting statements that had not been voiced before.

In particular, speaking of a necessity for earliest resolution of the Karabkh conflict, he for the first time clearly divided Nagorno-Karabakh itself and seven surrounding regions. Earlier, the Azerbaijani President was constantly speaking of “occupied” territories as a single unity.

Aliyev also presented his view of the current stage of the Karabakh peace process, interpreting so-called Madrid Principles without naming them. “The resolution of the conflict envisages the withdrawal of Armenian forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories within the fixed time framework, restoration of all communications, return of all refugees and internally displaced persons to their places of origin, international security guarantees, including peacekeeping forces, interim status to Nagorno-Karabakh. We are ready to continue talks in good faith for finalizing the status of Nagorno-Karabakh within the Republic of Azerbaijan,” he said.

If we omit the unreal statement on readiness to determine final status of Karabakh within Azerbaijan (official Yerevan has repeatedly stated that NKR’s return to Azerbaijan, where ethnic cleansings of the Armenian population have been made is excluded), the second shift in Aliyev’s stance is the issues regarding refugees. It is difficult to say whether it was a slip of a tongue or Baku’s official position has changed. However, it is the first time when the President spoke of return of all refugees and internally displaced, including the Armenian ones. It is yet unclear how Armenian population can return to Baku and other cities where anti-Armenian hysteria is still generated.

As to the current stage of the Karabakh peace process, Aliyev noted that “the step-by-step approach introduced to Armenia and Azerbaijan in December 2009 by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs is accepted by Azerbaijan in principle as a base for achieving a lasting resolution of Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Unfortunately, Armenia is still prolonging the definite answer to the Co-Chairs’ proposal.”

 

He also said that they rely on solidarity of the international community with the just position of Azerbaijan.