Azeri minister cautiously optimistic over progress in talks with Armenia

Ekspress, Baku
28 Jun 05

The Azerbaijani foreign minister has showed cautious optimism towards
peace talks with neighbouring Armenia over the disputed region of
Nagornyy Karabakh. In an interview with the Azerbaijani daily Ekspress,
Mammadyarov noted that there is little progress in the talks, but
convergent views are there and the sides will try to explore ways for
a breakthrough. The following is an excerpt from Alakbar Raufoglu’s
report carried by Azerbaijani newspaper Ekspress on 28 June headlined
“The principles defined in Warsaw will be approved in Kazan” and
subheaded “Mammadyarov and Oskanyan has ‘a meeting without particular
reason’ in the hall in Brussels”; Subheadings are as published

The Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers, Elmar Mammadyarov
and Vardan Oskanyan, met face-to-face in Brussels last week. The
unofficial meeting was conducted on the fringes of the international
conference on the reconstruction of Iraq. Mammadyarov shed some light
on the present stage of peace talks in an interview with Ekspress. He
said that the ministers are currently discussing the elements of the
agreement reached by the two presidents in Warsaw.

There is no progress, but closer positions

[Interviewer] Oskanyan has said that in Paris the ministers failed to
conclude the agreement reached by the presidents. What is specifically
being discussed and what is the current status of the talks?

[Mammadyarov] I would not say that there is great progress in the
talks. However, discussions are under way and there are convergent
views on some points. Both Azerbaijan and Armenia may agree on certain
principles. Granted, some points are still open and it is difficult
to resolve them. But we will discuss them and we will think about
what we can do to push the talks forward. The co-chairmen [of the
OSCE Minsk Group] are expected to visit the region soon. They will
be in Baku on 11 July and we will continue these discussions.

[Interviewer] Russian co-chairman Yuriy Merzlyakov said that the
mediators made their proposals a long time ago and are now expecting
the parties to take a constructive position… [ellipses as published]

[Mammadyarov] We are currently negotiating seven to nine elements. In
reality, these do not form a proposal but are the elements of the main
agreement that we have been discussing. These are the liberation of the
occupied lands, the restoration of communication lines, the opening of
roads, mine clearance, etc. There is progress on some issues, while
on others we are trying to find a common language. It is important
to know which option and principle will be accepted. I cannot unveil
them because the talks are under way and this is a sensitive issue now.

[Passage omitted: known details about agreement on two principles]

Ministers’ ordinary meeting

[Interviewer] Was the meeting in Brussels part of the Prague process?

[Mammadyarov] We met without a specific reason, sat in the hall and
discussed where we are and how we have to act to bring peace to the
region. Now we think that we can compare our positions after the
co-chairmen arrive.

[Interviewer] You said that there is agreement on two principles.
What are they?

[Mammadyarov] Generally, the talk is about withdrawal from the occupied
territories, the repatriation of IDPs [internally displaced persons],
the restoration of living conditions and the status of Nagornyy
Karabakh. We always say that the discussions must be held solely within
the principle of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. Whatever we
discuss, we have to consider Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

[Interviewer] What will happen to the Armenian population living in
those territories after IDPs return to their native lands?

[Mammadyarov] The proposals of the co-chairmen [on the Karabakh peace
settlement] were based on the report of the [OSCE] fact-finding
mission. The report says that the Armenians who were illegally
settled in the region should be evicted. This is unambiguous and the
international community supports this report, which was distributed
as a UN document.

UN resolution depends on talks

[Interviewer] Baku has declared that the draft UN resolution [on
Armenia’s illegal settlements in occupied Azeri lands] may be again
put to a vote in August-September. On the other hand, Armenia has
been elected the deputy chairman of the 60th session of the General
Assembly. Will it create new obstacles?

[Mammadyarov] No. The Azerbaijani ambassador to the UN, Yasar Aliyev,
is highly likely to be elected the chairman of the fourth committee.
This means that our country will also become a member of that committee
and we will not lose in this regard.

As for the resolution, everything depends on the talks here. The
situation may change if there is a breakthrough in the negotiations.
Otherwise, we would have to work on the resolution.

[Passage omitted: meeting of presidents in Russia’s Kazan]

Rice not expected soon

[Interviewer] Who else did you meet in Brussels?

[Mammadyarov] There were representatives from over 80 countries and
international organizations at the meeting in Brussels. [Passage
omitted: details]

[Interviewer] Did you meet US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice?

[Mammadyarov] I talked to Ms Rice, but did not have a meeting.

[Interviewer] What is the status of discussions around her visit
to Azerbaijan?

[Mammadyarov] I do not believe that this visit will take place soon
because the Americans are very busy and the agenda of the visit is
still to be defined. She told me in Chile that she wants to visit
the region, but this visit does not fit her schedule.