OSCE Minsk Group's Proposals

The Commonwealth, November 1998

In the autumn of 1998, almost one year after the last rejected proposal by the Minsk Group, the mediators presented a new document that advocated a commonwealth, consisting of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan. Its main principles were as follows:

• Nagorno-Karabakh was recognized as an independent republic in an union with Azerbaijan and within the latter's international borders;
• Nagorno-Karabakh would have the right to form Azerbaijan's foreign policy in the issues affecting the former. Nagorno-Karabakh would have the right to have its own representatives at the Azerbaijani embassies, consulates and send delegates to international organizations and meetings in which Nagorno-Karabakh's interests require it.
• Nagorno-Karabakh would have its own constitution and Azeri laws and decrees would apply on Nagorno-Karabakh territory, if they did not conflict with Karabakh Constitution.
• Nagorno-Karabakh would have its own National Guard and its own police force.
• Azerbaijani army, security forces and police would not be permitted entry to Nagorno-Karabakh territory without the latter's permission.
• The issue of the Latchin corridor would be resolved in a separate agreement and the Latchin district remains a demilitarized zone until a permanent agreement is reached.[108]

The document, otherwise, contained the same terms and conditions included in the first two proposals. This document was accepted by Armenia and Karabakh, but was dismissed by Azerbaijan, who rejected the proposal of a union with an equivalent Nagorno-Karabakh.

108) Minsk Group Proposal ('common-state deal'), Conciliation Resources; https://www.cr.org/our-work/accord/nagorny-karabakh/keytexts20.php