Azer News, Azerbaijan
Oct 7 2004
Armenia postpones talks on Upper Garabagh conflict
Yerevan has put forth an initiative to postpone the talks over the
Upper Garabagh conflict after the meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian
Presidents in Astana. Commenting on the matter, Azeri Deputy Foreign
Minister Araz Azimov confirmed the fact that the
Armenian side had requested a delay to analyze the outcome of the
negotiations held thus far. It is not clear yet when the talks will
continue, he said. Azimov said there is no need for a meeting of
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents’ special envoys, as all issues
related to the conflict settlement are discussed during regular
meetings of the two countries’ foreign ministers. At the Astana
summit Azerbaijan called on Armenia to recognize its territorial
integrity and withdraw its armed forces from the occupied lands.
Azimov stressed that the Azerbaijani government is ready to ensure
the security of the Armenian community in Upper Garabagh if Armenia
accepts the terms put forward by Azerbaijan.
Turkey’s mediation
Azerbaijani, Turkish and Armenian Foreign Ministers did not meet in
New York, as expected, but such a meeting may be held in the
foreseeable future. Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said the
meeting was postponed for technical reasons and it will now depend on
Turkey whether or not it will take place. Turkish Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul said his country would continue making efforts to ensure
the talks continue and a trilateral meeting is held. Although the
three ministers did not meet in the United States, the Turkish
Foreign Minister held bilateral meetings with his Azerbaijani and
Armenian counterparts. Ways of settling the Upper Garabagh conflict
and the role of the United Nations in this process were discussed.
During his meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Oskanian, Turkish
Minister Gul took interest in the results of the meeting held by the
Azeri and Armenian presidents in Astana.