PRECONDITIONS LEAD TO IMPASSE

Azg/Arm
2 Nov 04

Foreign minister of Nagorno Karabakh Republic Ashot Ghulian called a
press conference yesterday to tell about his US visit. He noted that
he left for America on invitation of the Michigan University and said
that he had meetings with social-political figures in other US cities
as well. Ghulian met with the OSCE Minsk group co-chair Steven Mann,
representatives of the US Congressional staff, members of the
America’s Armenian Congress, with the Armenian representative to UN
and others. All meetings were useful and mutually beneficial.

Speaking of his speech at the Michigan University, minister said that
he gave a survey of the Karabakh conflict history, causes and process.

Ashot Ghulian had a meeting with Luiz Simon Manukian at the AGBU
center. He emphasized that the establishment has a great potential for
cooperation and thanked for contribution so far. The Diaspora is very
interested in the modern state of Artsakh and in the perspectives of
conflict settlement.

Commenting on Azerbaijan’s deputy foreign minister Araz Azimovâ=80=99s
refusal to take part in the conference, the minister said that
Azerbaijan’s step was an attempt to prevent the conference. There were
9 issues included in the conference agenda and only one of them
concerned Karabakh. Ghulian said that Azerbaijan strives for
undermining all promising projects instead of supporting the
international community to get the true perception.

Presenting Steven Mann’s views on Karabakh conflict, Ghulian said that
the latter thinks that the social dialogue between the sides is
necessary in order to uproot the hostility in societies.

Ashot Ghulian said that Turkey’s possible involvement in the talks was
also discussed and noted that a representative of a non-official
Iranian organization said that Iran as well may have its say in the
talks as it is also an interested side, particularly in this case when
Turkey’s stance does not differ from Azerbaijan’s.

By Kim Gabrielian from Stepanakert