Karabakh President Bako Sahakyan has made a new proposal on the settlement of the ongoing conflict. Following his meeting with OSCE Chairman-in-Office Kanat Saudabayev on February 16 he stated that he had suggested discussing issues of territorial integrity in the legal plane and that other issues should be discussed during political negotiations.

Sahakyan did not elaborate on the essence of his suggestion, however, head of his administration’s Information Department David Babayan told media that Karabakh suggests starting negotiations on a new basis.

Despite the fact that the issue of the recognition of the status of Karabakh, which declared its independence in 1991, underlies the Karabakh conflict, the integrity of territories has become the key issue in negotiations conducted since 1993.

Azerbaijan insists that its territorial integrity has been violated and refuses to discuss any issues without lands being returned. The Armenian side, meanwhile, insists that territories are only the consequence of the conflict and this issue can be settled only after a decision on Karabakh’s status. Azerbaijan’s demand was taken as a basis for the “Madrid principles” of the OSCE Minsk Group on conflict settlement. Armenia has not yet answered whether it accepts the updated version of the Madrid principles as a basis for negotiations.

The issue of territorial belonging may be considered at the UN International Court. However, the verdict of this court does not have a juridical force.

On Wednesday, February 17, when Kosovo celebrated the second anniversary of its independence, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic stated that Belgrade expects that the UN International Court will recognize the declaration of Kosovo’s independence illegal. The court’s decision is expected in spring. Serbia’s foreign minister stressed that after the decision Belgrade “will do everything for the resumption of dialogue to find a solution acceptable to all parties.” However, Kosovo’s independence has already been recognized by 65 states, including the United States and 20 members of the European Union even without the decision of the international court.