First stage in Karabakh talks over, Armenian foreign minister says

Arminfo
22 Sep 04

YEREVAN

Any meetings of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents, regardless of
their outcome, are a positive phenomenon and lay the foundation for
further steps, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said in
Yerevan today, commenting on the 15 September meeting of Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in
Astana.

Asked whether a continuation of [former Azerbaijani President] Heydar
Aliyev’s course in the Karabakh settlement was possible, the Armenian
foreign minister said only that “a gradual continuation was not ruled
out” because “one option has not been rejected by the Azerbaijani
side”.

“But I cannot officially confirm the fact of a gradual continuation,”
Oskanyan said. He also added that he could not “intervene in the
essence of talks between the two presidents”.

“When the presidents think it appropriate, they will do so. I cannot
comment on the contents of their meeting,” Vardan Oskanyan said.

He noted that it was premature to talk about the essence of the talks
and to inform the public of it at this point. “Not at this stage. But
when the necessary stage is reached, the issue will be put on
discussion,” he said.

As for the next meeting of the two foreign ministers, Oskanyan said
there is no agreement to that effect yet. At the same time, the
minister said there might be a pause in the meetings. He added that
the four meetings held were the first stage which “raised” some
issues. If there is a corresponding instruction, the foreign ministers
will then embark on the second stage which will be closer to the
settlement of the issue.