PREMIER OF AZERBAIJAN MEETS OSCE DELEGATION

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Sept 5 2005

On September 5, Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Artur Rasizade has met
delegation of OSCE headed by Acting Chairman of this international
organization, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia
Dimitrij Rupel.

The head of the Azerbaijan government has expressed hope that visit
of OSCE delegation to region would bring certain contribution to
settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Dimitrij Rupel, speaking about the purpose of the visit to Azerbaijan,
has emphasized, that priority questions of negotiations spent in the
Baku meetings are questions of settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict and acquaintance with the course of preparation for the
forthcoming parliamentary elections.

During exchange of views taken place at the meeting concerning ways
of the settlement of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the
Prime Minister has emphasized, that for the decision-making satisfying
both sides, it is necessary to start with the realities existing in
1988 when began the conflict. He also has noted that Azerbaijan is
obliged to strengthen its defense and with this purpose in the state
budget of the next year, the appropriate means would be increase in
2 times.

Speaking about forthcoming elections to Milli Majlis, the head of
the government of Azerbaijan has assured the OSCE Acting Chairman
that they would pass at the highest level and become one more stage
on the way of development of democracy in the country.

At the reception, also was attending the personal envoy of the OSCE
Acting Chairman Andzei Kaspshik.