"During the occupation, the countries that chaired the OSCE Minsk Group and their leaders made very positive statements several times, almost seven to eight years ago. One of them is a clear statement that the status quo is unacceptable and must be changed. We also welcomed it as very positive," Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev told Turkish Anadolu Agency, Report informs.
"I have repeatedly expressed my views on this issue and said that this is a long-awaited statement. Changing the status quo means ending the occupation. However, after those statements, they did not take practical steps. In addition, after a while, they withdrew from this wording, and the co-chairs put forward a new wording: "The status quo is not sustainable." There is a big difference between "unacceptable" and "unsustainable" wordings. At that time, I criticized them and said that this change of position is bringing grist to Armenia's policy of aggression.
“Unfortunately, the next period showed that the Minsk Group does not intend to resolve this issue. And during the war, in the 44-day war, we saw it again. Because it was some countries that were co-chairs of the Minsk Group that raised the issue against us at the UN. The war was going on, we were restoring international law on our land, we were waging a war of justice. At such a time, it was completely unfair to raise the issue of any sanctions against us at the UN. As for the current period, we can say that we almost do not see the activities of the Minsk Group. They came in the process of negotiations, made proposals, set the agenda of meetings at the presidential level, offered us the topics to be discussed, and both sides were negotiating on this topic. Now, about a year after the end of the war, they have no any proposals.
“They came to Azerbaijan once and I told them to make suggestions. We have solved this issue. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is over. There is no Nagorno-Karabakh administrative territory. Recently, in my speech at the UN General Assembly, I appealed to all countries and said that the expression Nagorno-Karabakh should not be used. Because there is no such a territory in Azerbaijan. There is Karabakh region, there is Eastern Zangazur.
“In this case, new issues must arise today for the activities of the Minsk Group. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is over. What can be done now? Confidence-building measures, opening roads, opening corridors, supporting the peace process, regulating Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, trying to have a peace agreement signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan. I think their scope of activities should be made up of these issues from now on. Can there be a status for non-existent Nagorno-Karabakh? Of course not. I have said this and I want to reiterate that if someone wants to grant a status to Nagorno-Karabakh, they should give a territory in their countries and create an institution or a republic there. Let them recognize its independence. We will also recognize, but not in Azerbaijan.
“After the Second Karabakh War, we have not received any proposals from the Minsk Group. And since there are no any proposals, it is inappropriate to talk about the activities of the Minsk Group. It has been a year. What are you offering? You say that this conflict must be resolved. On behalf of Azerbaijan, I am saying that I have solved it despite all the pressures... That is, there must be a proposal. What should they do? I have expressed my views. The rest is their responsibility," the president said.