US ENVOY PREDICTS AZERI-ARMENIAN ACCORD IN 2006

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
posted on April 10 2006

Baku, April 7, AssA-Irada
The US ambassador to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish has said an agreement
may be signed in 2006 to settle the long-standing Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh. He reiterated that the United
States is doing everything in its power to achieve a solution.

Harnish said this year is suitable to reach peace for two reasons.

“We have carried out the needed talks both with the two countries’
presidents and foreign ministers and the co-chairs, and worked hard
to achieve sustainable and fair peace. On the other hand, 2006 is
essential to strike such an accord since no political developments
will take place this year,” the ambassador said.

The diplomat stressed that the co-chairs of the mediating OSCE Minsk
Group have paid frequent visits to the region of late.