ARMENIAN AND AZERI FMs ADDRESS US GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION

Armenpress
Sept 19, 2005

NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS: Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign
minister Vartan Oskanian and Elmar Mamedyarov addressed the 60-th
session of the UN General Assembly on September 18. Armenian minister
first cited a UNDP Human Development report which ranked Armenia at 83,
far ahead of its neighbors. Oskanian said Armenia made the progress
in the face of its disadvantaged geographic location with no crude
oil reserves and no outlet to sea.

“If we had oil money we would spend it on education, social
security and nature protection,” he said, implicating Azerbaijan’s
declared plans to double its military spending next year up to
$600 million. Regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Oskanian said
Armenians there have achieved a de facto independence proving to all
that they are able to defend their independence, govern themselves,
create democratic institutions and conduct fair and transparent
elections.

According to RFE/RL, Azerbaijani foreign minister dwelt on Baku’s
official position on how the conflict should be settled, saying Armenia
must first of all pull out its troops from all controlled regions of
Azerbaijan in order to get rid of ‘aggressor’s label’ and contribute
to building of atmosphere of confidence. He then said refugees must
be allowed back to where they had lived before the conflict erupted
and that a police force, composed of Armenians and Azeris, must be
formed in Nagorno-Karabakh to ensure security. He also said Karabakh
Armenians and Azeris in Nakhichevan must be allowed free communication
with their fellows in both countries.

“In this sense the Lachin corridor must be turned into a road of
peace and used in both directions and should be controlled at the
initial stage by international peace keepers,” he said.