This morning Azerbaijan's presidential administration staff member dropped a very serious hint that may lead to the recognition of Nagorno Karabakh's independence. The news report came from Azeri media.
Chief of the Public and Political Department of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Ali Hasanov told reporters that "Azerbaijan originally stated resolutely that any attempt to impose the solution of the conflict to the detriment of the territorial integrity of the country will not be accepted by Azerbaijan. But we take into account the real situation and the conditions for further life and respect for the rights of ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. We are prepared to respect their rights on the basis of international law." His words are reported by Today.az.
There are two things that needs to be seriously taken into consideration in Mr. Hasanov's words. The first the the absense of phrase "territorial integrity" that has been ever present in the official Bauk's vocabulary. It has been replaced by the phrase "intenational law." The second, which is even more important is the phrase "but we take into account the real situation."
When Mr. Hasanov, which is not any politician, but a member of the presidential administration of Azerbaijan, says that his country is "prepared to respect their rights on the basis of international law" is indeed a serious step forward.
This is a good and constructive announcement on the part of Azerbaijan ahead of the visit of the Minsk group co-chais to the region this week. The co-chairs, earlier this morning said that the updated versions of the Madrid principles are ready and will be presented to the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. The main point, among other things, in the Madrid principles is the "legally bound expression of will" of the population of the Nagorno Karabakh that will lead it to independence.
This announcement may be the first ever hint by Azerbaijan that it is ready to take into consideration the "real situation" and show "respect for the rights of the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh."
On the backdrop of this announcement the expectations may rise ahead of the meeting of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Russian co-chair Mr. Yuri Merzlyakov told the Trend News that the Minsk Group will work on preparing a meeting between the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia scheduled for October 10 in Chisinau.
On October 9 the capital of Moldova will hold a summit of CIS countries. If Azerbaijan continues its constructive rhetoric about the rights and security of the Armenian majority of Nagorno Karabakh, this will certainly be a new beginning that may show the light at the end of the tunnel in settling the Armenian Azerbaijani conflict for the independence of Nagorno Karabakh's Republic.
Written by Armen Hareyan
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