Mammadyarov: If Yerevan admits that principles voiced by Hoagland not new, then substantive talks should be started

The L'Aquile, Muskoka and Los Cabos statements by the Presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries reflected the key elements of a step-by-step settlement of the conflict on the basis of the Helsinki Final Act, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov recalled, commenting on the recent statement by the United States co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Richard Hoagland.

"These elements also constitute the fundamental basis of the updated Madrid principles. The same principles have been also emphasized by the United States co-chair, Richard Hoagland. The very first step in the sequence of principles, which are complementary to one another, is the withdrawal of Armenia’s troops from the occupied territories around the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. With the elimination of the fact of occupation, return of internally displaced persons to their native lands and implementation of necessary security measures should be ensured," the diplomat pointed out.

He also noted that Armenia does not implement the demands of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions on the conflict.

Mammadyarov stressed that if Yerevan admits that these principles are not new and accepts them, then substantive negotiations should be started to discuss the details, and the Armenian people will be able to benefit from the cooperation opportunities that Karabakh conflict resolution would create.

According to the minister, Baku has repeatedly said that it is ready for serious negotiations to change the current status quo, which is considered as an unacceptable by the heads of state of Minsk Group co-chair countries and to ensure the soonest settlement of the conflict and the lasting peace in the region.