Astana talks major stage in Karabakh settlement – Azeri foreign minister
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
16 Sep 04
[Presenter] The Baku government put forward the principle of
territorial integrity as the main precondition in the Nagornyy
Karabakh settlement at the Astana meeting of the Azerbaijani and
Armenian presidents, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
has said in an interview with “Son Xabar”. The minister said that
liberation of seven districts around Nagornyy Karabakh had also been
touched upon during the talks and added that Armenia’s reaction to
the issue was still not known.
[Correspondent, over video of Azerbaijani, Armenian presidents] Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov described the Astana talks between the
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents as a major stage in the Nagornyy
Karabakh settlement. He said that at the talks the presidents had
outlined the future direction of the process and the main issues to
be discussed.
[Mammadyarov, speaking to microphone at airport] There is an opinion
that the two sides should analyse results of the talks and decide
which path they should take.
[Correspondent] The minister said that the process would take some
time. The Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents were satisfied with
the results of the Prague consultations between the foreign ministers
of the two countries. Mr Mammadyarov stressed that during the talks
the Baku government had set its territorial integrity as the main
precondition.
[Mammadyarov] Of course, there can be no talk about violating
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity irrespective of the negotiations
and their results.
[Correspondent] Mammadyarov said that liberation of the districts
around Nagornyy Karabakh had been discussed during the talks, but he
noted that Yerevan’s reaction to the issue was still not known. The
minister also touched upon the importance of the meeting between the
Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian presidents [in Astana].
[Mammadyarov] I think Russia wants to render its assistance since it
regards itself to be a major neighbouring country.
[Correspondent] The foreign minister said that the date for the
presidents’ next meeting had not been set during the talks. He also
said that Baku hoped that results of the Astana talks would have a
positive impact on the Nagornyy Karabakh settlement.
Etibar Mammadov, Mirtofiq Miralioglu, “Son Xabar”.