Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
January 14, 2005, Friday

KARABAKH TALKS

SOURCE: Gudok, January 12, 2005, EV

by Sergei Merkulov

FOREIGN MINISTERS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN MET IN PRAGUE TO DISCUSS
KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

Foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan Vardan Oskanjan and Elmar
Mamedjarov met in Prague this Tuesday to discuss Karabakh.

The 6th meeting of the ministers was attended by Russian, French, and
American chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group.

No “breakthrough” in the 16-year old conflict is to be applauded.
Yerevan and Baku stick to their positions. The basis of the talks
themselves, however, indicates eagerness of the presidents, Robert
Kocharjan and Ilham Aliyev – to intensify the process of settlement.

President of Azerbaijan Aliyev said in his New Year address to the
nation, “2004, became a breakthrough year in the Karabakh
settlement.” He said, “Progress has been made in the negotiations,
the international community is paying closer attention, and the OSCE
Minsk Group as the intermediary is more active.” According to Aliyev,
“if the negotiations (in Prague) are constructive and Yerevan does
not deviate from the positions we agreed on, we will reach a
solution.”

On the other hand, Aliyev emphasized once again, “Where territorial
integrity is concerned, Azerbaijan will never make any concessions.
It will not even discuss the matter.”

Armenia insists on the so-called package accord (all together) while
Azerbaijan wants a systematic solution (it demands the return of the
territories occupied by Karabakh and the return of refugees). Baku is
prepared to discuss Karabakh status only after that.

So, where is the way out? A chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia
thinks that a complex solution is the only way out. Revival of
economy in the conflict zone (including the Caucasus railroad) is one
of the surest ways to accomplish it. It alone will get Karabakh and
Armenia out of the transport blockade. Transport is politics too.

Translated by A. Ignatkin