Baku Sun, Azerbaijan
April 24 2004

German FM presses on human rights

BAKU (AP) – German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, meeting with his
Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov, on Wednesday encouraged
the country to adhere to European human rights norms.

Fischer told reporters that Germany was interested in improving
cooperation with all the countries in the Caucasus region.

`For the cooperation of Germany with the region, in particular with
Azerbaijan, an important condition is the faithful fulfillment by the
country of the recommendations of the Council of Europe,’ the
continent’s main human rights watchdog, Fischer said. Fischer also
expressed hope for a quick resolution of the dispute over
Nagorno-Karabakh.

The enclave in Azerbaijan has been separated from the country since
the mid-1990s, under the control of ethnic Armenians after a
separatist war.

The land conflict has yet to be resolved.