AZG Armenian Daily #105, 09/06/2005

Neighbors

MAMEDIAROV: YEREVAN AND BAKU TALK OVER LACHIN AND NAKHIJEVAN ROADS

Yerevan and Baku are conducting negotiations over the roads connecting
Armenia with Nagorno Karabakh (via Lachin) and Azerbaijan with Nakhijevan.
Elmar Mamediarov, Azeri foreign minister, stated.

Mediamax informed that Elmar Mamediarov said that “he meant the road and the
railroad.” But we think that the operation of the road will be more useful
for us. The issue of opening the roads should be of mutual interest,” Azeri
foreign minister said.

Elmar Mamediarov said that 7or 9 points will be included on the agenda of
June 18 meeting between the Azeri and RA foreign ministers. “Each of them is
of great importance,” he added.

“We will discuss each of these issues. The position of Azerbaijan is well
known and the territorial integrity of the country should be restored,”
Mamediarov said. He said that they will also discuss the issue of locating
the peacekeeping forces in the region after the return of the Azeri
refugees. “The security issue is very important. After the Azeris return to
their homes, this issue will become very actual. The Armenian side treat
this issue very seriously, as well,” Mamediarov pointed out. He said that
the sides will also discuss the issue of clearing the mines and withdrawing
the forces from the Azeri territories.

Mamediarov said that the discussion of the abovementioned points is being
discussed stage by stage and the settlement of each issue depends on the
settlement of the previous ones.

Mamediarov said the visit of the OSCE Minsk group co-chairs to the region
will depend on the results of the negotiations in Paris. “But we expect that
they will stir to activity after that meeting,” he said.

It’s worth reminding that it’s been already the third case when Elamr
Mamediarov states that the issue of opening Lachin and Nakhijevan corridor
is being discussed during the negotiations.