AZG Armenian Daily #128, 13/07/2005

Karabakh issue

MINSK GROUP WORKING OUT ‘BASIS OF SETTLEMENT’ OF THE CONFLICT

Co-Chairs Will Discuss ‘Wording Alternatives’

Co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk group arrived in the region on
Sunday. This is the first visit of the mediators since the
parliamentary elections in Nagorno Karabakh on June 19 that were
estimated as democratic by international and local observers.

On July 11, Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), Steven Mann (USA) and Bernard
Fassie (France) met with the Azerbaijani foreign minister Elmar
Mamediarov. The so-called head of Karabakh’s Azeri community, Nizami
Bahmanov, brought up some details after the meeting. According to
Armenpress, the talks focused on opening a transport route from
Azerbaijan to Armenia through Karabakh’s territory as well as
returning the refugees to their permanent domiciles.

Bahmanov said that “the key issue is returning Azeris to their
settlements” and “the status of the region cannot be settled without
returning them to Nagorno Karabakh”. “There is advance in the talks,
and we are hopeful that the public will be informed on August 26 after
the meeting of Azeri and Armenian president in Kazan”, Bahmanov said.

Mediamax informs that the co-chairs and Mamediarov discussed “the
present stage of Karabakh settlement process and the situation created
after the Warsaw meeting between Armenian and Azeri presidents and the
Paris meeting of foreign ministers”. After the meeting with President
Aliyev, Minsk group co-chairs will set off for Yerevan to meet
Armenian authorities. Settlement talks will continue further in
Stepanakert, Nagorno Karabakh.

Lately, authorities in Baku have been often speaking of exploiting
common transport corridors. The former Russian co-chair to the Minsk
group, Vladimir Kazimirov, told Vremya Novostey paper on this occasion
that official Baku’s offer is “directed to the electorate and the
outer world”.

“Azerbaijan is getting ready for parliamentary elections, and
pre-election calculations influence Baku’s talks strategy”, Kazimirov
said. He thinks that “Armenians, who are not squeezed by the election
factor yet, have positive but reserved evaluation of the talks
process”.

Kazimirov noted that despite belligerent statements and harshness over
key issues, Azerbaijan has also begun speaking of trust-inspiring
arrangements, of which it did not want to hear formerly. The former
co-chair pointed out to Baku’s proposal to maintain common control
over Aghdam-Nakhijevan road (via Nagorno Karabakh, Lachin and
Armenia).

“The issue of communication in the conflict zone is important, but
that is no key for the settlement”, Kazimirov said, adding “the status
of Nagorno Karabakh and liberation of regions Armenia occupied 11-12
years ago are still in the epicenter of discords”.

A day before the visit, Yuri Merzlyakov stated that the mediators will
continue working out the ” basis of regulation” of the confrontation
with the sides. “We are in high and working mood. I think that this
visit will be beneficial for further talks process”, Merzlyakov said.

The visit of Minsk group co -chairs to the South Caucasus will last
till July 16. On August 26, Armenian president will meet his Azeri
counterpart in Kazan on the sidelines of CIS non-official
meeting. Before that, it is expected that Armenian and Azeri foreign
ministers will have 1 or 2 meetings.

By Tatoul Hakobian