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Minsk Group Working Out 'Basis of Settlement' Of The Conflict

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  • Minsk Group Working Out 'Basis of Settlement' Of The Conflict

    AZG Armenian Daily #128, 13/07/2005


    Karabakh issue

    MINSK GROUP WORKING OUT 'BASIS OF SETTLEMENT' OF THE CONFLICT


    Co-Chairs Will Discuss 'Wording Alternatives'

    Co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk group arrived in the region on
    Sunday. This is the first visit of the mediators since the
    parliamentary elections in Nagorno Karabakh on June 19 that were
    estimated as democratic by international and local observers.

    On July 11, Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), Steven Mann (USA) and Bernard
    Fassie (France) met with the Azerbaijani foreign minister Elmar
    Mamediarov. The so-called head of Karabakh's Azeri community, Nizami
    Bahmanov, brought up some details after the meeting. According to
    Armenpress, the talks focused on opening a transport route from
    Azerbaijan to Armenia through Karabakh's territory as well as
    returning the refugees to their permanent domiciles.

    Bahmanov said that "the key issue is returning Azeris to their
    settlements" and "the status of the region cannot be settled without
    returning them to Nagorno Karabakh". "There is advance in the talks,
    and we are hopeful that the public will be informed on August 26 after
    the meeting of Azeri and Armenian president in Kazan", Bahmanov said.

    Mediamax informs that the co-chairs and Mamediarov discussed "the
    present stage of Karabakh settlement process and the situation created
    after the Warsaw meeting between Armenian and Azeri presidents and the
    Paris meeting of foreign ministers". After the meeting with President
    Aliyev, Minsk group co-chairs will set off for Yerevan to meet
    Armenian authorities. Settlement talks will continue further in
    Stepanakert, Nagorno Karabakh.

    Lately, authorities in Baku have been often speaking of exploiting
    common transport corridors. The former Russian co-chair to the Minsk
    group, Vladimir Kazimirov, told Vremya Novostey paper on this occasion
    that official Baku's offer is "directed to the electorate and the
    outer world".

    "Azerbaijan is getting ready for parliamentary elections, and
    pre-election calculations influence Baku's talks strategy", Kazimirov
    said. He thinks that "Armenians, who are not squeezed by the election
    factor yet, have positive but reserved evaluation of the talks
    process".

    Kazimirov noted that despite belligerent statements and harshness over
    key issues, Azerbaijan has also begun speaking of trust-inspiring
    arrangements, of which it did not want to hear formerly. The former
    co-chair pointed out to Baku's proposal to maintain common control
    over Aghdam-Nakhijevan road (via Nagorno Karabakh, Lachin and
    Armenia).

    "The issue of communication in the conflict zone is important, but
    that is no key for the settlement", Kazimirov said, adding "the status
    of Nagorno Karabakh and liberation of regions Armenia occupied 11-12
    years ago are still in the epicenter of discords".

    A day before the visit, Yuri Merzlyakov stated that the mediators will
    continue working out the " basis of regulation" of the confrontation
    with the sides. "We are in high and working mood. I think that this
    visit will be beneficial for further talks process", Merzlyakov said.

    The visit of Minsk group co -chairs to the South Caucasus will last
    till July 16. On August 26, Armenian president will meet his Azeri
    counterpart in Kazan on the sidelines of CIS non-official
    meeting. Before that, it is expected that Armenian and Azeri foreign
    ministers will have 1 or 2 meetings.

    By Tatoul Hakobian
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