Plans for settling Nagorno-Karabakh conflict announced

Hurriyet Daily News has revealed some details of an Azerbaijani plan for settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in an interview with the Azerbaijani Minister of Foreign Affairs, Araz Azimov.

Azimov said that the multi-stage plan involves gradual withdrawal of Armenian forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and opening the Armenian-Turkish border.

Azimov arrived in Ankara to discuss the new plan for cooperation between the two countries and settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Moscow soon and may take part in the process.

The plan was proposed by Azerbaijan and Turkey. It was presented to the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Azimov said that the peace process needs the participation of the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Azerbaijan has 65,000-70,000 citizens who were driven out of Nagorno-Karabakh and wish to return. 750,000 Azerbaijanis were driven out of the seven surrounding regions.

According to the plan, Armenia will withdraw its forces from Agdam, Fizuli, Jebrail, Zangelan, Kubatly, Lachyn, Kelbejar and Nagorno-Karabakh. The plan is split in stages.

Armenian forces will leave the Agdam, Fizuli, Jebrail, Zangelan and Kubatly Districts in the first stage. The Armenian-Azerbaijani border will open, as well as the Armenian-Turkish border.

The first plan will take five years. Azerbaijani citizens will return when security is guaranteed.
Azimov said that there is no information on the terms of realization of the plan.

The minister noted that the conflict has been going on since 1992. Each side had its own topic on the issues.