Azerbaijan News Service
April 2 2005
OSCE CHAIRMAN IN OFFICE CALLS ARMENIAN REGIME OF QARABAQ TO JOIN
PEACE TALKS
Dmitriy Rupel, OSCE chairman-in-office and foreign minister of
Slovenia met with Elmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijani FA minister on April
2 within his visit to Baku. In the briefing after the meeting, he
affirmed giving statement during his visit to Yerevan on joining of
Armenian community of Qarabaq the talks on Armenian-Azerbaijan Daqliq
Qarabaq conflict. I have no authority to change format of the talks
said Dmitriy Rupel, OSCE chairman-in-office and added Armenian media
distorted some of his opinions. I met with representatives of
Armenian community of Daqliq Qarabaq. And recently talked with
Azerbaijani community. We have to listen to different ideas,
opinions. And continue talks in this way. I can neither change nor
make corrections to the format of peace talks process. The sides
should come to an agreement. I won’t speak about the sources you
cited. This is a problem, a conflict. I advise you not to believe
these sources. Dmiriy Rupel said he heard new interesting ideas from
Elmar Mammadyarov regarding settlement of the conflict and these
ideas need to be discussed with Vardan Oskanyan, Armenian FA
minister. OSCE chairman also spoke about repeated cease-fire breaches
in Azerbaijan Armenian front line during last weeks. Regarding the
release of three Azerbaijani soldiers held in Armenian captive since
February 15, OSCE chairman assured they would be released soon, as he
was told in Yerevan. Another question that Dmitriy Rupel touched was
upcoming parliament elections. He said OSCE is interested in
democratic elections. OSCE wants the elections to be held
democratically and free. But as a FA minister of Slovenia, I can say
there is a powerful government and weak opposition in Azerbaijan. In
my country, their powers are equal. I think we may contribute these
two sides by balancing their activity. Elmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijani
FA minister didn’t exclude participation of representatives of
Armenian community of Daqliq Qarabaq and said Azerbaijani commu8nity
of Daqliq Qarabaq and OSCE experts should join the talks. But it
should be after official Baku holds negotiations with Armenia. After
his meeting in Foreign Affairs Ministry, Dmitry Rumpel was received
by president in his office. Armenian-Azerbaijan Daqliq Qarabaq
conflict creates a great danger to regional cooperation, stability
and peace. Position of Azerbaijan on the settlement of the conflict
is based on international law norms. Territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan must be restored, ID people must return to their houses.
Our demands are just those approved in international law norms said
president Ilham Aliyev. Stressing speedy development of integration
process in Europe, president Ilham Aliyev said future progress of
Azerbaijan is connected with close cooperation with European and
Euro-Atlantic organizations. Expressing his satisfaction with meeting
with the President OSCE chairman said the main issue they are
concerned about is Daqliq Qarabaq problem. Elections and democratic
development issues are at the center of attention of OSCE as well.