Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Nov 16 2004

Non-involvement of Upper Garabagh in talks impeding conflict
settlement – Armenian leader

The process of talks on settling the Upper Garabagh conflict is
impeded by two factors, with the main one being the non-involvement
of Upper Garabagh, Armenian President Robert Kocharian told a press
conference on Monday.
Kocharian said that the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia are
currently trying to find a mutually-acceptable resolution of the
problem but said `he is not really optimistic of the situation with
the Upper Garabagh conflict settlement’.
`Azerbaijan insists on holding talks with Armenia, which, in fact,
represents Upper Garabagh’s interests in the negotiations. However,
this is not a fully proper format as it does not reflect the essence
of the conflict’, Kocharian said.
Kocharian indicated as another hurdle Azerbaijan’s rejecting active
regional cooperation.
`Armenia believes that through cooperation a settlement can be
achieved, while Azerbaijan’s priority is to resolve the conflict,
after which such collaboration can be discussed.’*