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Hikmet Hajiyev: “Azerbaijan’s position on the format of the negotiations expressed in co-chairs’ declaration” - UPDATED

14 March 2019 13:53 (UTC +04:00)

"The claims of the Armenian side to change the format of the negotiations on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, are groundless," said the head of the Foreign Relations Department of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration, Hikmet Hajiyev, ONA reports.

Hikmet Hajiyev expressed the meetings should be not for the sake of the meeting, but should be fruitful.

H. Hajiyev noted that the meetings should be based on outcomes and should be result oriented, not held just for the sake of the meeting: "The position of Azerbaijan was expressed in the statement of the co-chairs. A part of the statement reflects the position of Azerbaijan and was directly addressed to Armenia. Adding new terms to negotiations is unacceptable and the negotiations continue within the current format. The statement also stresses the wrongfulness of expressing aggressive rhetoric. Besides, the co-chairs have pointed out the principles of step-by-step solution of the conflict, emphasizing that the lands of Azerbaijan should be liberated from occupation, internally displaced persons should return to their native lands, and the principle of self-determination of peoples has to be complied. This is also included in the Helsinki Final Act (Helsinki Accords). The principle of self-determination of peoples should not undermine the territorial integrity of the states. Regarding the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan is always ready to discuss this issue within the framework of territorial integrity”.