"Though small, but positive change in Armenia’s position felt at Sochi meeting of the presidents"

Baku stated that a slight positive change in Yerevan's position was felt at a trilateral meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia in Sochi.

"Speaking about the Sochi meeting in general it should be noted that it, to some extent, though slightly, differed from the position in the negotiation process adhered by the Armenian side about one and half years," Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Foreign Relations Department Head Novruz Mammadov said in an interview with Trend.

"The position taken by Armenia in the negotiation process so far has been completely of destructive nature. Now the difference is clearly seen, which can be positively evaluated a little bit," Mammadov said.

He said the Sochi meeting held at the organization and participation of the Russian President passed as it was scheduled.

"First, the presidents of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia met. Then the sides exchanged views and had discussions with the participation of the foreign ministers. Further, the meeting was widely discussed during the dinner. In the end, each of the presidents met privately with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs," Mammadov added.

According to Mammadov, there are certain reasons which have caused a small, but positive change in Armenia’s position.

"I believe during this period the Armenian leaders saw that, if things go the same, their position will never succeed and turn their certain plans over. Azerbaijan demonstrates a very fair and constructive position and tries to resolve the conflict peacefully and through negotiation process," Mammadov said. "Perhaps, the Armenian side intends to make certain changes in its position as a result of this analysis."

Mammadov does not exclude that the Russian President's activity on settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem affects the certain changes in Armenia’s position.

"I believe the fact that several meetings organized during the year and a half with the personal participation of the President of Russia, one of the co-chairing countries, itself is an important factor to some degree. After all, if the president of such a major state maintains close relations and holds many meetings with the two other states, and has not reached any results, it can testify for something. So, I distinguish this meeting from the previous meetings to some extent," Mammadov said.

He said the presidents adopted another declaration as a continuation of the Astrakhan meeting. The declaration stressed two issues: first - the exchange and return of POWs and second – holding investigations on the frontline with the participation of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in case of certain incidents and adoption of certain decisions.

"However, one may observe comments and interpretations of this statement beneficial to the Armenian side in the Armenian media. However, it does not correspond to reality. The declarations do not and cannot contain any obligation by Azerbaijan regarding a peace guarantee. Non-military resolution, that is, a peace guarantee is possible only after the complete liberation of our lands. I believe it is the Azerbaijani President’s principled position," Mammadov added.

Mammadov said holding constructive talks will again depend on the position of the Armenian side. He was commenting on the question whether the Sochi declaration may be considered as the beginning of further constructive talks.

"As you can see, such an interpretation [of the Armenian side] of that what was not in the Sochi declaration, on the one hand, gives grounds to distrust your question. However, we should wait until summer of 2011 to give a positive answer to your question. Since the presidents gave orders at the meetings with the co-chairs, and the co-chairs should make an effort to identify the direction in which this, albeit a small difference, will develop. We, too, as the answer to your question, will witness in which direction these processes will develop by summer," Mammadov added.


/Trend/