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Trend News Agency, Baku, Azerbaijan
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News
June 16, 2011 Thursday
International Crisis Group: Great hopes for Azerbaijani,Russian and
Armenian presidents in Kazan
by E. Tariverdiyeva, Trend News Agency, Baku, Azerbaijan
June 16--JUNE 16 / , Azerbaijan, Baku -- It is difficult to predict
whether there will be any progress at the meeting in Kazan, but there
are great hopes, International Crisis Group official Sabina Fraser
said in an interview with Zhamanak newspaper.
"This is also connected with the fears that if no agreement is
reached, the question arises
whether this process will continue," she said. "Armenia and Azerbaijan
will have elections
soon. The electoral processes are also planned to be held in the
mediating-countries. If theparties fail to agree this year, it will be
difficult to compromise in 2012-2013."
The Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian presidents' meeting in Kazan is
scheduled for late June.
This will be the ninth tripartite meeting between the presidents of
Azerbaijan, Russia and Armenia.
Earlier, the parties signed a declaration envisaging the return of
POWs. It is of humanitarian nature.
She said the last statement of the Minsk Group's co-chairing countries
was much more clear, specific and powerful. The statement clearly
stated the expectation of the presidents for the parties to agree on
basic principles in the nearest future, perhaps, during a meeting in
Kazan.
"It is also stressed that if consensus is reached, all three countries
will observe theimplementation of these principles by providing
financial and other assistance," she added.
"If the parties fail to agree and one of them uses force, it will be
perceived by co-chairingcountries, as a negative step. It will not be
perceived as a way of solving the problems."
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a
ceasefire agreement in 1994.
The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group -- Russia, France, and the U.S.
-- are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding
regions.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News
June 16, 2011 Thursday
International Crisis Group: Great hopes for Azerbaijani,Russian and
Armenian presidents in Kazan
by E. Tariverdiyeva, Trend News Agency, Baku, Azerbaijan
June 16--JUNE 16 / , Azerbaijan, Baku -- It is difficult to predict
whether there will be any progress at the meeting in Kazan, but there
are great hopes, International Crisis Group official Sabina Fraser
said in an interview with Zhamanak newspaper.
"This is also connected with the fears that if no agreement is
reached, the question arises
whether this process will continue," she said. "Armenia and Azerbaijan
will have elections
soon. The electoral processes are also planned to be held in the
mediating-countries. If theparties fail to agree this year, it will be
difficult to compromise in 2012-2013."
The Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian presidents' meeting in Kazan is
scheduled for late June.
This will be the ninth tripartite meeting between the presidents of
Azerbaijan, Russia and Armenia.
Earlier, the parties signed a declaration envisaging the return of
POWs. It is of humanitarian nature.
She said the last statement of the Minsk Group's co-chairing countries
was much more clear, specific and powerful. The statement clearly
stated the expectation of the presidents for the parties to agree on
basic principles in the nearest future, perhaps, during a meeting in
Kazan.
"It is also stressed that if consensus is reached, all three countries
will observe theimplementation of these principles by providing
financial and other assistance," she added.
"If the parties fail to agree and one of them uses force, it will be
perceived by co-chairingcountries, as a negative step. It will not be
perceived as a way of solving the problems."
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a
ceasefire agreement in 1994.
The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group -- Russia, France, and the U.S.
-- are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding
regions.