ARKADI GHUKASYAN: AZERBAIJANI POSITION MORE CONSTRUCTIVE TODAY THAN BEFORE

ARKA News Agency
July 19 2005

YEREVAN, July 19. /ARKA/. Azerbaijani present position is more
constructive than in past, NKR President Arkadi Ghukasyan stated
in his interview to the Armenian Public Television Company. In his
words, Azeri authorities are not so aggressive and express their
willingness to discuss issues which, first of all, have always
interested Nagorno-Karabakh. “If before Azerbaijan refused to
discuss the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, then today this issue is on
the agenda. This means that Azerbaijan is entering the constructive
field step by step”, Ghukasyan said. He said that to some extent it
is reasoned by the up-coming parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan,
which are very important, and many things depend on them, as well as
by the influence of international community. Ghukasyan pointed out
that the international community has been working with Azerbaijan
for a very long time to convince the leadership that defiance of
Nagorno-Karabakh interests and holding discussions only with Armenia
is a wrong approach. The role of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs is
also important here. “On the other hand, there are developments,
which are not dependent either on Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, or
on Azerbaijan. Presently the international community is interested
in peaceful settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and Azerbaijan
can not ignore this fact”, Ghukasyan said. A.A. -0–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress