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AZERI, ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS' KAZAN TALKS RAISE HOPES
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Aug 30 2005
Baku, August 29, AssA-Irada
Hopes for a settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper Garabagh
conflict increased after another around of talks in Russia, Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told journalists following the Saturday
closed-door meeting of the Azeri and Armenian presidents in the Russian
Volga river city of Kazan. The previous meeting of the two presidents
in Warsaw raised expectations for progress in the conflict resolution.
Prior to the Kazan meeting held on the sidelines of the Commonwealth
of Independent States summit, there were presumptions that the
sides would reach a specific agreement or sign a document. However,
it became clear after the meeting of the foreign ministers in Moscow
shortly before the presidents' talks that considerable results would
not be achieved. As before, the presidents' meeting was attended by
the co-chairs of the meditating OSCE Minsk Group Steven Mann of the
United States, Yuri Merzlyakov of Russia and Bernard Fassier of France,
as well as the OSCE chairman's envoy Anzhei Kaspshik. The talks, which
first started with participation of the two foreign ministers and OSCE
representatives, were followed by a private meeting of the heads of
state. Although no extensive information was available on the details
and outcome of the meeting, Foreign Minister Mammadyarov's statement
enables a conclusion that major results were not achieved. He said,
however, that the meeting cannot be termed as fruitless, as talks
between the two presidents always yield results. "The hopes that
emerged after the Warsaw meeting further increased after the Kazan
talks." The Minister noted that new proposals were made at the Kazan
meeting and that a week or two are needed to analyze them and assess
the situation. Although Mammadyarov did not elaborate, it is clear
that the mediators made certain proposals on the conflict resolution.
The date and venue for the next round of talks is not known yet and
will be specified after the meetings are analyzed, the Minister said.*
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Aug 30 2005
Baku, August 29, AssA-Irada
Hopes for a settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper Garabagh
conflict increased after another around of talks in Russia, Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told journalists following the Saturday
closed-door meeting of the Azeri and Armenian presidents in the Russian
Volga river city of Kazan. The previous meeting of the two presidents
in Warsaw raised expectations for progress in the conflict resolution.
Prior to the Kazan meeting held on the sidelines of the Commonwealth
of Independent States summit, there were presumptions that the
sides would reach a specific agreement or sign a document. However,
it became clear after the meeting of the foreign ministers in Moscow
shortly before the presidents' talks that considerable results would
not be achieved. As before, the presidents' meeting was attended by
the co-chairs of the meditating OSCE Minsk Group Steven Mann of the
United States, Yuri Merzlyakov of Russia and Bernard Fassier of France,
as well as the OSCE chairman's envoy Anzhei Kaspshik. The talks, which
first started with participation of the two foreign ministers and OSCE
representatives, were followed by a private meeting of the heads of
state. Although no extensive information was available on the details
and outcome of the meeting, Foreign Minister Mammadyarov's statement
enables a conclusion that major results were not achieved. He said,
however, that the meeting cannot be termed as fruitless, as talks
between the two presidents always yield results. "The hopes that
emerged after the Warsaw meeting further increased after the Kazan
talks." The Minister noted that new proposals were made at the Kazan
meeting and that a week or two are needed to analyze them and assess
the situation. Although Mammadyarov did not elaborate, it is clear
that the mediators made certain proposals on the conflict resolution.
The date and venue for the next round of talks is not known yet and
will be specified after the meetings are analyzed, the Minister said.*