Now that the Azerbaijani authorities’ uncompromising position is the cause of any hindrance to the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, the Azeri mass media are unanimously trying to prove the opposite. It is “by wonderful coincidence” that the mass media serving the Aliyev clan have, over the last two days, published stereotyped comments by politicians and experts intended to prove that it is Armenia, rather than Azerbaijan, that has taken a non-constructive position in the negotiations process.

The reason for Baku’s violent reaction was RA President Serzh Sargsyan’s speech at a meeting with Russia-based Armenian businessmen, when the Armenian leader spoke of the blessed memory of the heroes who shed their blood in liberating Shushi. In their morbid imagination, the Baku mass media, using all the stylistic devices of contemporary science fiction, rephrased the Armenian leader’s appeal for active financial assistance to the development programs in the city: “The Armenian side intends to consolidate the results of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh and prevent Azerbaijanis’ return to the region.”

The “righteous cause” of proving the Armenian side’s “non-constructive” position was supported by some of the members of Azerbaijan’s Parliament representing the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, with much of the “burden” falling on Samed Seidov, Head of the Azerbaijani delegation’s to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). His statement that “Armenia has never abandoned its position, and it is not the first statement in this spirit made by Serzh Sargsyan,” leaves one question of principle open: what does Seidov mean by Armenia’s “position.”? The Armenian side’s having no intention of making Sushi a subject of negotiations must have proved to be a surprise for the Azeri authorities. Official Yerevan, which has “outlined” the maximum territorial concessions it is ready for, has never meant Nagorno-Karabakh, to say nothing of its second largest city.

Noteworthy is the fact that an official of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaking of what is known as Madrid Principles, has several times pointed out Azerbaijan’s readiness to start consultations on the return of Azerbaijani refugees to Nagorno-Karabakh after the second stage of the settlement process. According to the available information on the Madrid Principles, the second stage, withdrawal of Armenian troops from Lachin and Kelbajar, is possible only five years after the first stage.

So it is no secret for anybody that Azerbaijani refugees can return provided Azerbaijan honors its international commitments for at least five years after a final document on Nagorno-Karabakh is signed and comes into force.

Official Baku must have hoped that the Armenian authorities would continue the corrupt practice of not settling and developing Shushi, which has been the case for many years. We hope their words about changing this policy will be followed by deeds.

As to the Azerbaijani leaders, as well as their representatives at various levels, let them not make vain efforts to prove Armenia’s “non-constructive” position in the negotiations process. They had better decide on whether they are ready for inevitable and painful concessions or not.