Azeri Speaker, EU reps discuss Karabakh settlement

ANS TV, Baku
18 Apr 05

[Presenter] Azerbaijan will make no compromises in the Nagornyy
Karabakh issue, Azerbaijani Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov has told a
meeting with EU representatives.

[Correspondent over video of the meeting] The meeting between the
delegation of the EU-Azerbaijan parliamentary cooperation committee and
Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov focused on the ways of settling the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict. The speaker drew the European guests’ attention
to the fact that 20 per cent of Azerbaijani territories had been
occupied and over 1m people had became refugees as a result of Armenian
aggression. He complained about the inactivity of the OSCE Minsk Group
which had undertaken to mediate a settlement to the conflict. He said
that there had been no fair and objective approach to the conflict so
far. Alasgarov once again put forward the Baku government’s position
and ruled out any compromises on the part of Azerbaijan.

[Alasgarov, speaking to delegation members] Azerbaijan can ensure the
security of the Armenian population of Karabakh. They can be granted
higher autonomy. This is the only compromise that we can make. No
other compromises can be the subject of discussions.

[Correspondent over video] The head of the EU-Azerbaijan parliamentary
cooperation committee, (?Maria Ashler Bequin), stressed the need for
focusing permanently on the regional conflict and for electing a EU
envoy for the region.

We have familiarized ourselves with the living conditions of refugees
settled in numerous districts of Azerbaijan. We are concerned about
their difficult situation and the fruitlessness of the talks which
have been held so far, end of quote.

[Bequin, speaking in French with Azeri voice-over] We partially share
the OSCE Minsk Group’s responsibility. The Minsk Group should fully use
its potential. We hope that the conflict will be settled peacefully.

[Correspondent, over video of meeting with EU delegation] The sixth
meeting held by the EU representatives in Baku also focused on the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.

[Azeri MP Gulcohra Mammadova] The EU should express its position
on the Karabakh conflict. The EU should not have the same attitude
towards the country subjected to aggression and the aggressor country.

[Correspondent] [Sentence indistinct] Meetings with the EU
representatives will continue tomorrow.