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 “The important thing is who makes final decision and not who thinks and how thinks. And this issue should be defined by Karabakh people,” Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan declared yesterday commenting on Azerbaijan’s FM Elmar Mammediarov’s statement that “he sees the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh in the frames of Azerbaijan.”

It’s worth mentioning that if Elmar Mammediarov speaks about Karabakh conflict resolution taking into account his wishes (I see…, we think…, we won’t accept…), his Armenian counterpart makes statements based on the definite document negotiated by the sides. 

Minister Nalbandyan was to the point stating that Karabakh people should decide, which, by the way, is precisely written in Madrid document published in July. The paper defines: “Future determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh through a legally binding expression of will.”

In fact Elmar Mammediarov shows either he isn’t well informed about the content of the discussed paper orelse he is quite aware of it and he denies it. In both cases Armenian disposition is the same and is expressed in Edward Nalbandyan’s yesterday’s statement.

“If Azerbaijan is against this fundamental approach, it means, they lay a kind of obstacle to the negotiations. They lay obstacles and are against Karabakh participation to the negotiations, as without the direct participation of Karabakh it’s impossible to reach any advancement.”    

In fact Azerbaijan tries to abort the negotiating process having its FM on the top of it. But they are mild also. In a news conference with Kazakh counterpart Elmar Mammediarov announced: “Those updated principles which are published as updated version of Madrid document are discussable for Azerbaijan. Yes, there are some points which are unacceptable for us. But generally speaking Azerbaijan likes the document.”

Those who are unaware of the delicate parts of the conflict, may think that the Azerbaijan’s official made a constructive statement and they may wait for a similar response from Yerevan. Elmar Mammediarov thought Yerevan would keep silence which would put the responsibility of aborting the negotiations on Armenia. Politically Azerbaijani official’s statement costs nothing.

The thing is that yet in July 11, 2009 Armenian FM Edward Nalbandyan in a joint news conference with US Deputy State Secretary James Steinberg hailed the presidents’ statement and expressed readiness to continue discussions over mediators’ recommendations. Hence, Armenian side hailed the document longer ago than Azerbaijani side. This is evidence to the fact that Mammediarov’s show is meaningless regarding its political point. 

Note that Edward Nalbandyan made yesterday some clarifications in two basic points. “Regarding the resolution of the conflict aftermath, the question of occupied regions by Azerbaijan – Martakert, Martuni and Shahumyan, must be settled, as well as the question of immigrants’ return,” stated the Minister adding: “And of course, the resolution of the conflict aftermaths should be resolved parallel to the conflict reasons. All these issues should be resolved through negotiations based on mutual agreement and peace.” 

One of the Minister’s observations – the issue of the occupied regions has been talked longer before but no official statement was made ever. Hence, we could conclude that those issues as if separate elements are also included in the negotiations. This should be surely hailed.

Regarding the second observation, which states that the conflict reasons and aftermaths should be settled parallel, some commentaries certainly should be made.   Azerbaijani side has been trying hard during all the negotiating process to give separate solution to the issue of conflict aftermaths, leaving its motivation to the future. This strategy is called a stage by stage resolution. Minister Nalbandyan’s statement underscored that Armenian side can’t give agreement to such kind of resolution.

To conclude, the message says all the problems and questions are highly recommended to be included in one single package. Of course, we’re talking about agreements and those agreements may come into force stage by stage. There is no alternative way out.