On 5 December, defense minister of Azerbaijan, colonel-general Safar Abiyev met the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), Rudolph Perina (US) and Henry Jacolin (France).

As stated, greeting the guests, the Minister said: “Your work is complicated and honorary. I mean settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. You fist should base on the principles of territorial integrity of states and norms of international laws. It is a fact. Armenia occupied Azerbaijani lands. Settlement of the conflict may be possible by observation of the UN Security Council’s resolutions, demanding unconditional withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories.

Expressing gratitude for reception, the co-chairs noted: “We try with all the existing opportunities at the disposal of international community, to reach progress in quick resolution to the conflict”.

In response colonel-general Safar Abiyev said: “I appreciate your optimism. However, it is too early to rejoice, because there one can observe approach to the conflict from double standards. There are enough facts. Hitherto, supply of armament to Armenia is going on. A greater part of arms and ammunition has been placed at the territories of Azerbaijan. Finally, Armenia, having enough amounts of weapons and receiving political support, sharpens its position in the talks. This negatively influences on settlement of the conflict”.

The French co-chair Henry Jacolin noted that currently there appeared favorable conditions for settlement of the conflict, and there are no grounds for pessimism”.

Responding this, the defense minister said: “I am not pessimist, but realist. I would like to bring to your notice the facts reverse to your suggestions.

Why is going on arming the aggressor, concentration of arms at the occupied territories and all-faceted assistance to the separatist regime?

While in the Nagorno Karabakh and adjacent regions, there live 40-50 thousands of Armenians, over one million of Azerbaijanis ousted from their homes, live in unbearable conditions, experiencing intolerable sufferings, why?

Why to draw a parallel between the aggressor and the victim of aggression, and demand them to come to an agreement between themselves? It means to drive one side into a corner. In such conditions, it is difficult to believe that the peaceful talks will lead to positive conclusions. It is high time to name the aggressor, and the separatist – a separatist.

As Armenia will not be demanded to execute the UN Security Council’s resolutions and observe norms of the international law, to speak of this or that positive resulting settlement of the conflict is useless. As the resolution to the conflict delays, increases possibility to resume military operations”.

Finally, colonel-general Safar Abiyev expressed hope that activity of the co-chairs would yield the expected results, and wished them success.

Participating was at the meeting the US ambassador to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish, ambassador of France to Azerbaijan Ms. Chantal Poiret.