Azeri foreign minister, EU envoy discuss Karabakh, November polls

Trend news agency
12 May 05

BAKU

The most important condition that must be met to solve the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict is the unconditional liberation of the territories
surrounding Nagornyy Karabakh and the return of the displaced
population to their homes, Trend news agency has quoted Azerbaijani
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov as telling a delegation led by the
EU special representative for the South Caucasus, Heikki Talvitie.

The minister said the time had come to take resolute steps to respond
to queries connected with the restoration of their [displaced
persons’] violated rights. Mammadyarov said Azerbaijan was interested
in resolving the problem.

Talvitie said he was also in favour of a negotiated settlement to the
conflict and added that the negotiations between the sides were
receiving support from the European community. He stressed that the
negotiating process should undergo a process of evolution.

With regard to the forthcoming parliamentary elections, Mammadyarov
said work was under way to ensure free and fair elections and added
that it was in the interests of the Azerbaijani state to conduct free
and fair elections that would meet international standards.