GARABAGH ARMENIANS MAY JOIN TALKS ON ‘CONDITIONS’

AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
April 6 2006

Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said on Thursday that Azerbaijan
may agree to the participation of Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh Armenians
in peace talks, but warned this is possible only after they recognize
themselves as Azerbaijani citizens and honor the country’s laws.

“Armenians living in Upper Garabagh must first recognize Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity and admit that Baku is the Azerbaijani capital
and they are ready to negotiate with us,” he said, while commenting
on some statements by Armenian and European diplomats on a possible
involvement of the Armenian community in the negotiations.

“Then they should state willingness to cooperate and live in accord
with the country’s Constitution,” said Mammadyarov, elaborating on
the conditions put forth by official Baku. The minister also said the
Armenian community’s participation in talks at this point runs counter
to Yerevan’s interests and Armenian officials’ zealous statements
to that end simply represent a “diplomatic move”. “I believe Yerevan
itself does not want the self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh republic to
be involved in the negotiations now, as they are interested in holding
talks on their own.” Mammadyarov added that the talks are under way in
the existing format, which suits Azerbaijan’s interests. Meanwhile, the
OSCE mediators brokering settlement to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
still hope for a peaceful solution, despite the latest unsuccessful
round of talks between Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharian
in France in February, which was followed by belligerent statements
by both sides. President Aliyev has said on several occasions after
the talks that Azerbaijan would regain its territories no matter
what it takes. The American co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Steven
Mann said he still hopes for a conflict resolution this year, which
was predicted earlier. “We will now analyze the situation and map
out further steps. I can say with hope after the last meeting of the
Azeri and Armenian presidents that we can find a way to resolve the
conflict. 2006 is ideal for this.”

Mann said the next meeting of the mediators may be held in April. He
also did not rule a meeting between the two countries’ foreign
ministers soon, but did not cite a specific timeframe. Political
analyst Vafa Guluzada regarded Mann’s statement as “not serious”.

“The conflict will be resolved only if the United States recognizes
Armenia as aggressor and demands it to withdraw from the occupied Azeri
land. We can’t bind any hopes with talks,” he said. Upper Garabagh,
which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, has both
Azerbaijani and ethnic Armenian population. It was occupied by Armenia
in early 1990s, along with seven other Azerbaijani districts, after
large-scale hostilities that killed up to 30,000 people and forced
over a million Azeris out of their homes. The ceasefire accord was
signed in 1994, but peace talks have been fruitless so far and refugees
remain stranded.