Noyan Tapan, Armenia
Nov 17 2004

VARDAN OSKANIAN: ARMENIA READY TO CONTINUE BILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS, IF
AZERBAIJAN DOES NOT ATTEMPT TO TRANSFER ISSUE TO OTHER INSTANCES

YEREVAN, 17.11.04. If Azerbaijan insists on the discussion of the
resolution on the Karabakh problem at the UN, Armenia can continue
negotiations only with the participation of Nagorno Karabakh. The RA
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian made this statement at the November
16 meeting with journalists. The minister noted that Armenia is ready
to continue bilateral negotiations if Azebaijan does not attempt to
transfer the settlement of the problem to other instances not related
to the settlement of this problem. He also underlined that if
Azerbaijan takes such a step and refuses to continue negotiations
with the participation of Nagorno Karabakh, the negotiations may
reach deadlock.

Asked what activities the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs is carrying
out in the coutries members of the Islamic Conference that have voted
for holding discussion within the framework of the UN, Vardan
Oskanian said no resources are allocated by the state budget for such
PR, yet considerable work is being carried out. As for Pakistan and
Indonesia that play an important role in the Islamic Conference,
Armenia`s relations with these countries have developed in different
ways. Like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan has close relations with Azerbaijan
and Turkey and refuses to establish diplomatic relations with
Armenia. Armenia has normal diplomatic relations with Indonesia.

Vardan Oskanian also noted that he talked with the foreign ministers
of many countries that had voted in favor of Azerbaijan`s proposal
and these ministers told him they had voted not in essence but
following the principle that any UN member country can organize
discussions on an issue of concern in the UN.