Aliyev is against Installation of Investigative Mechanisms on the Contact Line

Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijani president, stated that the meeting in St. Petersburg upon the initiative of the Russian side, had a positive result, APA agency reported.

“It’s positive that after Vienna meeting another meeting was initiated by the Russian side. We positively assess that meeting,” Aliyev said.

Aliyev stated that he hoped that Nagorno-Karabakh settlement process will continue with speedy temps.

“We again go to these negotiations without any conditions. Negotiations should be object, content, and not for the sake of imitation. As a result of the meeting a joint statement has been approved, which was also introduced to the public. Everything is enshrined in the declaration, including ways of issue settlement.

Parallel to it issue of expansion of the existing Office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson in Office has been covered. The exact number isn’t mentioned, however, I may say that currently 6 people are working, then the number may increase maximum 2-2.5 times, i.e. it doesn’t refer to big mission. OSCE mandate is the same, there are no any changes, only instead of 6 people there will be 12, 13 or 14,” Aliyev clarified.

As for the claim of the Armenian side on installation of investigative mechanisms, according to the Azerbaijani president, there is no such a necessity at this stage.

“Firstly, those mechanisms don’t exist. Nobody says to us concretely what these mechanisms are. Under such case that issue won’t be proper to discuss today. Secondly, what sense does it make? If under it “freezing” of the conflict and initiating of additional operations on the contact line is understood, then Azerbaijan, surely, won’t take that step.

It may be under continuation of positive dynamics in negotiations, so that we observed concrete results to know concrete terms of freeing out lands. In this case different mechanisms can be worked out, and only at that time the issue may be discussed,” Aliyev said.

According to the latter, it was mentioned in the joint statement after the meeting in St. Petersburg, that the situation has stabilized on the contact line, ceasefire regime was reestablished, which was assessed as positive, and in this case there is no need for installation of investigative mechanisms.

“We need to put an end to the invasive policy by Armenia. We need to know when the process of freeing of our territories will be initiated. This process, undoubtedly, will occur. The Azerbaijani side and I, in particular, have repeatedly stated that we can settle that conflict, because otherwise it’s impossible,” Aliyev said.

According to Aliyev phase-to-phase settlement is more acceptable, which may lead to speedy settlement of the issue.