Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Jan 14 2005

Armenia becoming more interested in talks – Deputy FM

2004 can be described as a more active year in terms of the
negotiating process on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper
Garabagh, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov told
journalists on Thursday. He said that during the three meetings of
the Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Robert
Kocharian and the four meetings of Foreign Ministers Elmar
Mammadyarov and Vardan Oskanian held in 2004, `views were exchanged,
which resulted in commonalities currently being discussed’.
Azimov said, however, that the approaches of the two sides are very
different and the situation is complex. At the same time, the parties
are interested in continuing the talks and consider them important
and useful, he said.
Azimov stated that `the meetings held are very important, but
`sensitive’, therefore, the sides agreed to provide the media `not
with the details but general information about them’.
Azimov emphasized that there are still a lot of differences, but said
he is confident that `the discussions will yield concrete results’.
He said that Armenia is becoming more interested in the talks.
`We hope the other side indeed has an intention to resolve the
conflict’, he said.
The Deputy Foreign Minister also pointed out that that the conflict
can be settled only within the principles of international law and
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.*