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Azeris won't resume hostilities, US official reportedly says in Armenia
Aykakan Zhamanak website, Yerevan
17 Mar 06
Excerpt from report by Armenian newspaper Aykakan Zhamanak website
on 17 March
US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried organized a reception at
Armenia Marriott Hotel in Yerevan yesterday [16 March]. The Armenian
political elite was invited to it as well. At the beginning of the
reception, Fried asked the participants to keep their conversation
confidential. But in reality he said nothing secret.
This is what one of the participants said [in an interview with the
newspaper]: "He spoke about a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev, and said that he was sure Aliyev will not resume hostilities
because he is the most balanced politician unlike other Azerbaijani
politicians. Fried said that Aliyev's bellicose statements were aimed
at domestic use. What Aliyev says during meetings with co-chairmen
[of the OSCE Minsk Group] is different from the statements he makes
in Azerbaijan, Fried pointed out."
However, both Fried and [US co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group] Steven
Mann were trying to explain to the participants that the preservation
of a status-quo is not favourable for Armenia because of the growth
of Azerbaijan's economy and budget, our interlocutor said.
Asked by [former head of the Armenian presidential administration]
Artashes Tumanyan whether Nagornyy Karabakh's subordination [presumably
to the USA] is possible in the light of problems existing between
the USA and Iran, i.e. whether it is possible that the USA deploy
peacekeepers in close proximity to the Iranian border, Fried was
confused and said that it would be good, if Armenia had a good
neighbour [as published].
[Passage omitted: Armenian politicians were happy with organization
of the reception]
Aykakan Zhamanak website, Yerevan
17 Mar 06
Excerpt from report by Armenian newspaper Aykakan Zhamanak website
on 17 March
US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried organized a reception at
Armenia Marriott Hotel in Yerevan yesterday [16 March]. The Armenian
political elite was invited to it as well. At the beginning of the
reception, Fried asked the participants to keep their conversation
confidential. But in reality he said nothing secret.
This is what one of the participants said [in an interview with the
newspaper]: "He spoke about a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev, and said that he was sure Aliyev will not resume hostilities
because he is the most balanced politician unlike other Azerbaijani
politicians. Fried said that Aliyev's bellicose statements were aimed
at domestic use. What Aliyev says during meetings with co-chairmen
[of the OSCE Minsk Group] is different from the statements he makes
in Azerbaijan, Fried pointed out."
However, both Fried and [US co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group] Steven
Mann were trying to explain to the participants that the preservation
of a status-quo is not favourable for Armenia because of the growth
of Azerbaijan's economy and budget, our interlocutor said.
Asked by [former head of the Armenian presidential administration]
Artashes Tumanyan whether Nagornyy Karabakh's subordination [presumably
to the USA] is possible in the light of problems existing between
the USA and Iran, i.e. whether it is possible that the USA deploy
peacekeepers in close proximity to the Iranian border, Fried was
confused and said that it would be good, if Armenia had a good
neighbour [as published].
[Passage omitted: Armenian politicians were happy with organization
of the reception]