BULGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTER PLEDGES TO MEDIATE IN KARABAKH PROBLEM

Khorizont Radio, Sofia,
16 Mar 04

Foreign Minister Solomon Pasi, who is currently touring the Caucuses
region in his capacity a chairman of the OSCE, is in Baku on 16
March. He is to meet President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev in the
afternoon.

Earlier today, Pasi held talks to Foreign Minister Vilayat
Quliyev. Quliyev expressed his dissatisfaction with the performance of
the OSCE Minsk Group dealing with the Nagornyy Karabakh problem. He
said that for 12 years the Karabakh problem remained unsolved. The
enclave is populated mainly by Christians of Armenian stock and makes
up 20 per cent of the territory of Azerbaijan. It has remained with an
unclear status for 10 years. Only Armenia has recognized its
self-declared independence.

Pasi, who is to visit Yerevan on 17 March, pledged to raise the issue
to the Armenian leadership.