«The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Azerbaijan has acquainted itself with the report Nagorno Karabakh rapporteur Goran Lennmarker presented at the OSCE PA 14th session in Washington,» stated head of the Department of Information and Press of MFA Tahir Tagizade. In his words, the MFA considers the Lennmarker report rather balanced, «The report reflects some serious opinions over the conflict situation, as well as serious and weighty positions and proposals aimed at its resolution. Azerbaijan joins the report urges to eliminate disintegration and separatism, importance of protection of national minority rights within state territorial integrity, grounding economic integration in compliance with international legal norms and principles and European values. The rapporteur’s opinion on inadmissibility of braking South Caucasian states up is of special importance.» The Azeri MFA official representative stated that «when analyzing the status issue G. Lennmarker explicitly preferred the Nagorno Karabakh region population to get autonomy as part of Azerbaijan,» «Azerbaijan joins this position. The report specially underscores inadmissibility of seizure of territories by force, compulsory liberation of occupied territories and return of displaced persons there. The rapporteur pays special attention to matters of securing the population and restoration of communications.» In T. Tagizade’s words, establishment of peace between the communities of the Nagorno Karabakh region, bilateral relations, wider all-European integration, development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Armenia will play a key role in the life of both countries in post-conflict period. «Advocating peace settlement of the conflict in compliance with international legal principles and norms, within the preservation of territorial integrity, calls to speed up the settlement of the conflict. The constructive proposals we put forward are supported by influential international organizations during the talks. G. Lennmarker himself noted when addressing the press that Azerbaijan is presented as a victim of occupation in his report. Lennmarker said Armenians should understand it and liberate the territories.» The MFA official representative underscored 3 important items in the Lennmarker report. «Lennmarker said international preventive forces should be formed to monitor and secure Nagorno Karabakh and occupied Azeri territories. Besides, Lennmarker recognized that the international community is not ready to provide independence to individual regions in the same sector, among which Nagorno Karabakh is mentioned.» T. Tagizade also said «the resolution specially emphasizes the fact that Azerbaijan is ready to provide highest autonomy to Karabakh within Azerbaijan.» «Goran Lennmarker also said Azerbaijan should make Karabakh population feel its positive attitude towards them. NK residents should be sure their rights within Azerbaijan will be protected by a reliable and independent legal system. In the rapporteur’s opinion, high autonomy requires much financial investment and it will be a heavy burden for the Azeri state budget.» It should be reminded that earlier G. Lennmarker urged parties to soonest settlement of the conflict and stated the best way to secure Nagorno Karabakh is its joining to Armenia. At that the Swedish MP called Azeri representatives to refrain from militant rhetoric in the future and «convince Armenians Azerbaijan does not pose a threat to them.» It should also be noted that Armenian Vice-Speaker, head of OSCE PA Armenian delegation Vahan Hovhannisyan qualified the Lennmarker report as daring and balanced on the whole.
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