Interfax
Sept 22 2004

Negotiations give hope to resolving Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Baku. (Interfax) – Negotiations between the Azerbaijani and Armenian
presidents in Astana in the framework of the CIS summit instill hope
that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can be resolved in a peaceful
manner, Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev said during a
meeting with Philip Dimitrov, special OSCE representative on
Azerbaijan and Armenia.

“We believe that the aggressor, Armenia, should be forced to comply
with the four UN Security Council resolutions on the conflict, with
which it has not been complying,” the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry’s
press service quoted Abiyev as saying.

The defense minister said that the conflict should be resolved while
taking into consideration the territorial unity of Azerbaijan.

“This is necessary also for the security of large economic projects
in Azerbaijan, in which European countries and the U.S. are
participating,” he said.

Abiyev said that in the case of Armenia ignoring these demands,
“Azerbaijan will face the necessity of freeing its territory from an
occupant.”