AZERI FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS BAKU'S STANCE REMAINS UNCHANGED
ARMENPRESS
April 3, 2008
BUCHAREST, APRIL 3, ARMENPRESS: Azerbaijani foreign minister Elmar
Mamedyarov downplayed today media speculations that his government
has toughened its position on the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.
Speaking to Armenian journalists in Bucharest, the venue of a NATO
summit, Mamedyarov said his Azerbaijan's position is not different
from what it was in recent years.
In comments on the current stage of the efforts to find a settlement
to the conflict he said during a yesterday's meeting with the OSCE
Minsk Group cochairmen from Russia, France and USA the Azeri side
discussed the idea of continuing the talks.
"It is now up to Armenia to show its vision of how the talks could
be continued. Azerbaijan's position has not altered-the conflict
must be settled based on the principle of Azerbaijan's territorial
integrity, but with the sense that Nagorno-Karabakh is granted a
high-level autonomy within integral Azerbaijan," Azerbaijani foreign
minister said.
According to him, more and more countries are starting to understand
that this is the only solution option.
In comments on Azerbaijan's application to the OSCE secretariat to
get explanations on how the Minsk Group could be dissolved he said
the institution of cochairmen was established, but no one knows when
it ends.
"In this sense we need to make clear how this institution works and
if it has a beginning then it should have an end, like any other
institution,' he said.
In response to a question that this stance is being interpreted as
a warning to the OSCE Minsk Group, Mamedyarov said it is rather a
clarification so that the cochairmen realize the responsibility which
they have for the conflicts resolution.
Mamedyarov also said he could not predict when presidents of Armenia
and Azerbaijan may meet, saying it could happen only after the
inauguration of Armenian president-elect.
ARMENPRESS
April 3, 2008
BUCHAREST, APRIL 3, ARMENPRESS: Azerbaijani foreign minister Elmar
Mamedyarov downplayed today media speculations that his government
has toughened its position on the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.
Speaking to Armenian journalists in Bucharest, the venue of a NATO
summit, Mamedyarov said his Azerbaijan's position is not different
from what it was in recent years.
In comments on the current stage of the efforts to find a settlement
to the conflict he said during a yesterday's meeting with the OSCE
Minsk Group cochairmen from Russia, France and USA the Azeri side
discussed the idea of continuing the talks.
"It is now up to Armenia to show its vision of how the talks could
be continued. Azerbaijan's position has not altered-the conflict
must be settled based on the principle of Azerbaijan's territorial
integrity, but with the sense that Nagorno-Karabakh is granted a
high-level autonomy within integral Azerbaijan," Azerbaijani foreign
minister said.
According to him, more and more countries are starting to understand
that this is the only solution option.
In comments on Azerbaijan's application to the OSCE secretariat to
get explanations on how the Minsk Group could be dissolved he said
the institution of cochairmen was established, but no one knows when
it ends.
"In this sense we need to make clear how this institution works and
if it has a beginning then it should have an end, like any other
institution,' he said.
In response to a question that this stance is being interpreted as
a warning to the OSCE Minsk Group, Mamedyarov said it is rather a
clarification so that the cochairmen realize the responsibility which
they have for the conflicts resolution.
Mamedyarov also said he could not predict when presidents of Armenia
and Azerbaijan may meet, saying it could happen only after the
inauguration of Armenian president-elect.