L’AQUILA, Italy (Combined Sources)—In joint statements released on the final day of the Group of Eight summit, the Presidents of the US, France and Russia called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and pledge their countries’ commitment to lasting peace in the region.
“We, the Presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group’s Co-Chair countries: France, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America affirm our commitment to support the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan as they finalize the Basic Principles for settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” the statement said.
“We are instructing our mediators to present to the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan an updated version of the Madrid Document of November 2007, the Co-Chairs last articulation of the Basic Principles,” continued the statement.
“We urge the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve the few differences remaining between them and finalize their agreement on these Basic Principles, which will outline a comprehensive settlement,” concluded the statement.
Among the principles called for in the Madrid Document, and which the United States, Russia and France reaffirmed Friday, were “the return of the territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijani control and an interim status for Nagorno-Karabakh providing guarantees for security and self-government.”
It also embraced “a corridor linking Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh” as well as a future determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh “through a legally binding expression of will” and the right of “internally displaced persons and refugees to return to their former places of residence.”
Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian and his Azeri counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, are scheduled to meet in Russia on July 17 to continue negotiations.
Below is the statement:
We, the Presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group’s Co-Chair countries France, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America, affirm our commitment to support the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan as they finalize the Basic Principles for settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
We are instructing our mediators to present to the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan an updated version of the Madrid Document of November 2007, the Co-Chairs’ last articulation of the Basic Principles. We urge the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve the few differences remaining between them and finalize their agreement on these Basic Principles, which will outline a comprehensive settlement.
Fact sheet
The ministers of the U.S., France, and Russia presented a preliminary version of the Basic Principles for a settlement to Armenia and Azerbaijan in November 2007 in Madrid.
The Basic Principles reflect a reasonable compromise based on the Helsinki Final Act principles of Non-Use of Force, Territorial Integrity, and the Equal Rights and Self-Determination of Peoples.
The Basic Principles call for inter alia:
• return of the territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijani control;
• an interim status for Nagorno-Karabakh providing guarantees for security and self-governance;
• a corridor linking Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh;
• future determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh through a legally binding expression of will;
• the right of all internally displaced persons and refugees to return to their former places of residence; and
• international security guarantees that would include a peacekeeping operation.
The endorsement of these Basic Principles by Armenia and Azerbaijan will allow the drafting of a comprehensive settlement to ensure a future of peace, stability, and prosperity for Armenia and Azerbaijan and the broader region.
Is that what Turkey thinks they should do with Cypress too? Russia recognized Ossetia, and Abkhazia and no Georgian has ever returned back to their homes. Kharabakh is legitimate territory of Armenia and bloody war will erupt if Armenia is lead by the same uneducated folks.
I agree with Armenak “Nil illegitimus Desperandum”
If serg sargsian will sign this, Independent Karabakh will never exist, and more so, I dont think Armenia will exsist as free country becouse if you give in once you will give in again and again and what a hell kocharian doing seling his ass to our “brothers rusians. They sold us once in 1915 they will sell us again and i think they already did, the way it stands as of now.
I hope Armenia will not trust this 3 muppets and sign the Madrid principles,it will only end up in tears.Garabach must join the talks NOW.
The only guarantee is our army.
As I remember years ago the USA.UK and Turkey stitched up Cuprus.I say this with sorrow ,I think the same may happen to Garabach unless Mr Sarkisian shows some b—s and stands up to them.
May God bless and save ARMENIA
Antranik from UK.
What is plans for repatriation to Artsakh ? Is there any programs or ideas on that ?
Without people it will be very hard to hold on the territories …
Build one house for yourself and one for fellow armenian , who will come later …
$1000 – one way ticket (maximum!) and one way … All other technicalities can be settled by supporting teams formed from volontiers (our own family members) …
Main idea – It is easier than we think …
Any ideas ?
Absolutely nothing going on. No TV ads requesting resettlement donations from non Armenians. (as the Jews are doing) no resettlement organizations, no money, no Armenian Government or NG government support for any foreign Armenians resettling there. No church efforts to that end. ANCHA is doing NOTHING to help the matter. They were incredibly helpful in bringing refugees to US in the 60’s. ARS is doing a great job helping Armenians there. But not bringing them there. Anyone interested in starting a new organization; Maybie we could call it NOR NERKACHT. If so, contact me at: vulcanequipment@aol.com. Maybie we could do some brainstorming on Skype.
The powerful Armenia Diaspora should add much more efforts to the Karabakh, then to anything else.
The Karabakh recognition and unification with Armenia should be done by Armenian government long ago without waiting for someone’s approval.
World major powers want a peace in the region at the moment and they don’t really care if Armenia will loose what belongs to her. They didn’t care before, why they should now. Russia, USA, France and all others countries act for their own interest in the first place.
It seems like a lot, but I see this organization advertising on TV , asking for donations to resettle Jewish refugees in Israel. A new NERKACHT, will require that kind of an effort. The Church will have to help in identifying poor or marginal families in faraway places that would be prime candidates for inmigration and resettlement. There are a lot of part Armenian families that are not in the Armenian mix. Even Turkish Armenian families from the Hamma Area. Syrian Armenian families;, Moldovian Armenian families. There are 300,000 of them in old Moldova, now Ukraine. When I travelled to Lebanon in my youth, I saw shantytowns where Armenian families lived in cardboard boxes nailled together. There are many inpovereshed Armenians living among the foreign,
we need them more than we need the rich and powerful. They are good too.
Edward Demian
so if the three says what they think ,let them be more realistic
maybe to free our occupied lands from turkish hands ,then talk about the rest .
no one has the power or the right to choose and decide about artsak,accsept the armenians they live their .the armenians had lost lots of blood to get it back .
I agree.. everyone man is for his own gain.. The US, France and Russia are pushing for quick resolution not because they care about ARmenia and her lands/people, they care about themselves first.. I wish this was not true but I have no faith in my government and I had not faith in Obama to stick to his word.. why should I have faith that these countries are thinking about the well being of their fellow nation..
If our president was smart enough, he would first think about how to manage the lands that he has and having a gold mine (Karabagh) is the perfect opportunity to populate with our people.. As some of you said, bring those that live on the foreign lands back to our lands and assist them to settle by providing monetary means..even though it may be a bit too much expenses at first, at least you will have your people cultivating the lands and bringing back the security and guarantee that it will remain ARmenian..where are all the rich Armenians out there who can put their money in good use..maybe help out to get this project going.. i think it will work..but then again, we need dedicated, strong and willing to do anything type of people and i dont’ see that in our current government..
I would rip the Madrid Doctrine and call them out by yelling out loud ” WE ARE NOT LOSERS…WE WILL NEVER GIVE UP.. YOU CAN”T HAVE OUR LANDS… and GO TO HELL..” that last one was added by me. sorry i can’t hold it in anymore.. i just want to shake them all and slap them few times to open their eyes.. enough is enough..
G