KAZAN, Russia—Presidents Serzh Sarkisian and Ilham Aliyev on Friday failed to reach an agreement on the so-called “Basic Principles” of a peace agreement by the OSCE Minsk Group after a summit mediated by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
In a brief join statement was issued after the talks the three leaders reported further progress in the conflict resolution process.
The statement, which was circulated by the Kremlin, said Sarkisian and Aliyev reached a “mutual understanding on a number of issues whose resolution would help to create conditions for the approval of the basic principles.”
The sides did not comment on the talks.
Prior to the talk, on Thursday, President Barack Obama phone calls Sarkisian and Aliyev.
The President reaffirmed the message expressed in the joint statement with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs President Nicholas Sarkozy and President Medvedev that the moment has come for all the sides to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to take a decisive step towards a peaceful settlement.
President Obama strongly encouraged the two leaders to finalize and endorse the Basic Principles during their meeting with President Medvedev in Kazan. Once the Basic Principles are agreed to, the parties can begin negotiating a final settlement based on the Helsinki principles of non-use of force or threat of force, territorial integrity, and the equal rights and self-determination of peoples, said a White House statement.
President Obama told both leaders that now is the time to resolve this conflict and to offer the people of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Nagorno-Karabakh a better future for themselves and for their children. The United States will continue to support both leaders and the Minsk Group Co-Chairs in their important efforts to advance security and prosperity in the region, added the White House statement.
Also on Thursday, Sarkozy sent a message to Sarkisian saying that in accordance to the statement made in Deauville by President Obama, President Medvedev and himself, he would like to express confidence that the time has come to verify the principles which could henceforth serve as a base for the actual negotiations on the resolution of the conflict. According to the President of France, there are moments in history when the leadership of a country should demonstrate to its people courage, wisdom and the road toward peace, said a statement by Sarkisian’s office.
“Please be assured that I, as a friend, and along with me France, which considers herself Armenia’s sister, convey to you the most sincere wishes for success in this decisive meeting. My country will spare no effort to support you on that road,” said Sarkozy.
Prior to the Kazan meeting, the Armenian National Committee of America Executive Director Aram Hamparian, issued a statement citing the Administration’s failure to apply the democratic principle of self-determination in its Nagorno Karabakh diplomacy.
“The direction of U.S. diplomacy on Nagorno Karabakh, including the OSCE Minsk Group proposal which will be discussed at the upcoming Kazan summit, runs contrary to the very principles – self-determination, freedom, and democracy – that President Obama so ardently advocated this evening,” said Hamparian.
“While we certainly welcome the ongoing efforts of the OSCE to bring about a fair and lasting peace, we remain troubled that the deal presently under consideration would force the citizens of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic – who are barred from acting as a party to the ongoing negotiations that will determine their fate – to trade their hard fought security and well-deserved independence for an undefined ‘interim status’ that will increase, not diminish, the risks of renewed Azerbaijani aggression,” added Hamparian.
“It is reckless and irresponsible to ask Armenians to make upfront, concrete, and effectively irrevocable land, status, and security concessions in exchange for deferred and easily reversible
Azerbaijani promises of a vaguely defined ‘expression of will’ regarding Artsakh’s status that may or may not – depending on Baku’s willingness – take place at some point in the future,” said Hamparian.
“The Obama Administration should, first and foremost, require that the official representatives of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic be fully and immediately reinstated in the peace process, and then move forward, not by pressuring the Armenian side into reckless concessions, but rather by acting in the spirit of the President’s powerful words in his speech Wednesday evening, and in accord with his campaign commitments to seek a lasting settlement for Nagorno-Karabakh based
upon America’s founding commitment to the principles of democracy and self determination,” concluded Hamparian.
100% IMITATION My hypothesis that Mr. Sarksyan, the Armenian illegal and corrupt President and Mr. Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani Corrupt and anti-democratic President, are making secret deal behind their own peoples is turning true. Masterly (like great usta) and at the right time, they give each other the chance to appear “an angel, a victim, and/or a patriot” before their own peoples. After that they again promise something to the super-powers and to their nations. Mr. Sarksyan and Mr. Aliyev are NOT articulating their peoples’ interests. They are NOT solving any problem; they are NOT protecting their peoples; they are NOT keeping peace; they are NOT defending their nations; they are NOT trying to settle anything. They are trying their best to keep their chairs under their backs; they are trying their best to keep presidential positions as long as possible and/or forever just to corrupt their own people as well as the people of the neighboring country; they are trying their best to keep their billions under their gyor! They kill and oppress their innocent citizens, then kill each other on the borders, then meet each other, open their teeth and have a luxurious dinner together with President M. of Russia. Comrade M. of Russia, shame on You!
Samvel, what you say is Jeshmarid, but Unilaterally:
A karabaghtsi is more Armenian than an Armenian from Armenia. An Armenian not from Artsakh, like LTP would abandon Artsakh with his wrong political calculations than an Artsakhtsi who will never give up and abandon Artsakh. Look the history, it was Tavit Peg, the Artsakhtsi who was the first fighting to re-create the Armenian Independence and not others from other oppressed Armenian territories.
We remember, LTP was ready, almost to abandon Artsakh with wrong Autononmy, to Azeris.
Other of your Jeshmarid poits, Corruption is in almost all democratic countries, and Armenia can not be expected to be different. Corruption is something to fight against.
Conclusion: we must not think, never, to overturn our government(s), specially during such War or Peace period. The contrary, we must stay united, and support our government(s), in this case, S.Sarkissian.
Vahan, What an irrisponsible statement ” A karabaghtsi is more Armenian than an Armenian from Armenia”.
Thousands of Armenians from Armenia voluntarily left for war and gave their lifes for Karabakh’s independence. Amota…
I believe that the essence of the agreement reached by Armenia and Azerbaijan, with Russia’s mediation, was on the type of food and liquor to be served at the next totally ridiculous summit on Artsakh.
Prior to the Kazan meeting, the Armenian National Committee of America Executive Director Aram Hamparian, issued a statement citing the Administration’s failure to apply the democratic principle of self-determination in its Nagorno Karabakh diplomacy.
“The direction of U.S. diplomacy on Nagorno Karabakh, including the OSCE Minsk Group proposal which will be discussed at the upcoming Kazan summit, runs contrary to the very principles – self-determination, freedom, and democracy – that President Obama so ardently advocated this evening,” said Hamparian.
Comment – Exactly.
The Western Comittment are only based on Economy and Oilgreed,
and therefore they want Peace which will not Block or stop Oil from this region.
Arn.Sweden.
I am an Azeri, but must confess that the Armenian side did the right thing for not signing the deal. They were being asked to give up the adjacent districts while being promised in exchange something very vague (future referendum on status, at SOME point in the future). Whether or not this refusal causes a war that is a different topic. “But from Armenian point of view, if the war starts, ok, I might lose these districts. Or I might not. But they are asking me to lose them now for sure. I will take my chances with a war, which may or may not start.”
As for the war, rest assured that our government will not start it. They are afraid to lose their power and their families lavish lifestyles. Instead, they will pretend to our public that they care about Karabak. And negotiations will continue until Azeris forget about Karabak or Armenia runs out of Armenians (due to emigration due to tough econmic situation, which the conflict with Azerbaijan is augmenting).
America, Russia & France. Are completely scared of a unified Armenia encompassing Artsakh and Javakhk. They are littraly doing everything in their power to stop the growth of our nation. Because once we are strong enough to capture our Western land ocupied by Turkey. These contries will loose all influence in the region. The Armenian Empire will rise with close ties to Iran, Egypt, Syria. Such an empire is inevitable and the superpowers despite thier efforts can not stop it.
The warnings of Aliev are already a Declaration of War. This time, in his warning he promises to buy more and more arms to impress Armenia. This proves already that, with all the arms he accumulated he feels still weaker.
But, to this declaration of war, Armenia has the right to warn Aliev, and as preventive war attack Azerbaijan to punish, and as compensation to liberate more of the Historical Armenia, including Nakhitchevan.
After this we let the historians to write the history of the Armenians and Armenia, known by Darius I 450 BC, and the Turk-Tatar-Azeri Nomad invaders coming from Central Asia.
We are sure, Israel will never keep silent against enemies who accumulate arms, make declarations showing their intention to start war, with the intention to annihilate Israel.
I say that Armenia turn the table and threaten war unless Armenia’s territorial integrity is restored, starting with the annexation of Nakhichevan.