Radio Free Europe, Czech Rep
Jan 14 2005

Azerbaijani FM: Talks With Armenia To Continue

13 January 2005 — Azerbaijan’s foreign minister says talks between
Azerbaijani and Armenian officials on the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute
will continue.

Foreign Minister Araz Azimov recently returned to Azerbaijan from
talks with his Armenian counterpart in the Czech capital Prague.
Azimov said that, while both sides still have disagreements on the
issue, everyone is interested in reaching a peaceful settlement.

Nagorno-Karabakh is a predominantly Armenian exclave in Azerbaijan.
It has had de facto independence since Armenian-backed forces won
control over the territory in 1994 following a six-year war.

Armenian-backed forces and Azerbaijani troops continue to face off
across a demilitarized zone in the region.