Madrid Principles
Encyclopedia
The Madrid Principles refer to one of the proposed peace settlements of Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. The original version of the principles was presented to the Armenian
and Azerbaijan
i foreign ministers at the OSCE ministerial conference in the Spanish
capital Madrid
in November 2007. They originated from a revised version of the peace settlement proposal unveiled by the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairing countries (France
, Russia
and the United States
) in the early summer of 2006. In 2009 at the urging of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen the Madrid Principles were updated.
Senior Armenian and Azerbaijani officials agreed on some of the proposed principles, but reportedly made little or no progress towards the deadline of the withdrawal of Armenian forces from occupied territories or towards the modalities of the decision on the future Nagorno-Karabakh status.
revealed the most recent draft of the Madrid Principles, which envisages a phased, rather than a package settlement to the conflict. The first phase includes the withdrawal of Armenian military from the Agdam, Fizuli, Jabrayil, Zangilan and Qubadli Rayon, as well from thirteen villages in the Lachin Rayon
. Communications are supposed to be restored and a donors' conference aimed at raising funds for postconflict rehabilitation is envisaged. The Madrid Principles also envision the demilitarization and demining
of Armenian-controlled territories.
The second phase envisions the withdrawal of the remaining Armenian forces from Lachin and Kelbajar, followed by the return of the Azerbaijani population to Nagorno-Karabakh. The "peacekeeping observers" are supposed to be deployed, ensuring the security of Azerbaijani displaced persons
returning to their abandoned homes. A decision is then taken on the geopolitical status of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
within Azerbaijan, assuming that status should not violate Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. Mammadyarov offered what he termed "a high level of autonomy" such as that enjoyed by Tatarstan
within the Russian Federation. He revealed that the revamped Madrid Principles are "largely acceptable" to Azerbaijan. The Madrid Principles, however, faced an opposition in Armenia and Armenian diaspora
in the West. The principles faced some criticism in Azerbaijan as well: according to Vafa Guluzade
, the Madrid Principles, if implemented in an agreement, can lead to "fragmentation" of Azerbaijan.
Madrid principles also define an interim status for Nagorno-Karabakh providing guarantees for security and self-governance and future determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh through a legally binding public expression of will through a referendum.
Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked region in the South Caucasus, lying between Lower Karabakh and Zangezur and covering the southeastern range of the Lesser Caucasus mountains...
conflict. The original version of the principles was presented to the Armenian
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
and Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
i foreign ministers at the OSCE ministerial conference in the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
capital Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
in November 2007. They originated from a revised version of the peace settlement proposal unveiled by the OSCE Minsk Group
OSCE Minsk Group
The OSCE Minsk Group was created in 1992 by the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe to encourage a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh.-Founding and members:The Helsinki Additional Meeting of the CSCE Council on 24 March...
co-chairing countries (France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) in the early summer of 2006. In 2009 at the urging of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen the Madrid Principles were updated.
Senior Armenian and Azerbaijani officials agreed on some of the proposed principles, but reportedly made little or no progress towards the deadline of the withdrawal of Armenian forces from occupied territories or towards the modalities of the decision on the future Nagorno-Karabakh status.
The principles
The Madrid Principles are based on the provisions of Helsinki Final Act of 1975. On March 15, 2010 the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar MammadyarovElmar Mammadyarov
Elmar Mammadyarov Maharram oglu , born on July 2, 1960, Baku), is the Foreign Minister in the Government of Azerbaijan since 2004. Mammadyarov speaks Russian, English and Turkish.-Early life:...
revealed the most recent draft of the Madrid Principles, which envisages a phased, rather than a package settlement to the conflict. The first phase includes the withdrawal of Armenian military from the Agdam, Fizuli, Jabrayil, Zangilan and Qubadli Rayon, as well from thirteen villages in the Lachin Rayon
Lachin Rayon
Lachin is a rayon of Azerbaijan. The capital is the city of Lachin. The region has been controlled by the breakway Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, as part of its Qashatagh Province, since the Nagorno-Karabakh War....
. Communications are supposed to be restored and a donors' conference aimed at raising funds for postconflict rehabilitation is envisaged. The Madrid Principles also envision the demilitarization and demining
Demining
Demining or mine clearance is the process of removing either land mines, or naval mines, from an area, while minesweeping describes the act of detecting of mines. There are two distinct types of mine detection and removal: military and humanitarian.Minesweepers use many tools in order to accomplish...
of Armenian-controlled territories.
The second phase envisions the withdrawal of the remaining Armenian forces from Lachin and Kelbajar, followed by the return of the Azerbaijani population to Nagorno-Karabakh. The "peacekeeping observers" are supposed to be deployed, ensuring the security of Azerbaijani displaced persons
Refugees and internally displaced persons in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani SSR was the first republic of Soviet Union that faced the problem of refugees. Those people were the Azerbaijani inhabitants of Armenia.-Refugees from Armenia:...
returning to their abandoned homes. A decision is then taken on the geopolitical status of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic , or Artsakh Republic is a de facto independent republic located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia...
within Azerbaijan, assuming that status should not violate Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. Mammadyarov offered what he termed "a high level of autonomy" such as that enjoyed by Tatarstan
Tatarstan
The Republic of Tatarstan is a federal subject of Russia located in the Volga Federal District. Its capital is the city of Kazan, which is one of Russia's largest and most prosperous cities. The republic borders with Kirov, Ulyanovsk, Samara, and Orenburg Oblasts, and with the Mari El, Udmurt,...
within the Russian Federation. He revealed that the revamped Madrid Principles are "largely acceptable" to Azerbaijan. The Madrid Principles, however, faced an opposition in Armenia and Armenian diaspora
Armenian diaspora
The Armenian diaspora refers to the Armenian communities outside the Republic of Armenia and self proclaimed de facto independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic...
in the West. The principles faced some criticism in Azerbaijan as well: according to Vafa Guluzade
Vafa Guluzade
Vafa Guluzade is an Azerbaijani diplomat, political scientist and specialist in conflict resolution. He worked as Foreign Policy State Advisor for Azerbaijan President between 1990-1999.- Education and political career :Vafa Guluzade was born on December 22, 1940 in Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, USSR. Mr...
, the Madrid Principles, if implemented in an agreement, can lead to "fragmentation" of Azerbaijan.
Madrid principles also define an interim status for Nagorno-Karabakh providing guarantees for security and self-governance and future determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh through a legally binding public expression of will through a referendum.