Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
Dec 14 2004

Azerbaijani Leader Seeks Help Over Karabakh

13 December 2004 — Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has called
upon the Council of Europe, the European Union, and the United
Nations to do more to help his country settle a long-running
territorial dispute with neighboring Armenia.

Aliyev was speaking at the Royal Institute of International Affairs
today during a visit to London. Aliyev said he remains committed to
seek a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with the
help of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

But he said other international organizations should play a more
active role in the negotiation process.

The predominantly ethnic Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh seceded
from Soviet Azerbaijan in 1988, triggering a six-year war between
Yerevan and Baku.

The conflict has claimed some 35,000 lives and driven an estimated
800,000 Azeris out of Karabakh and neighboring areas that are still
occupied by Armenian troops.