ALIYEV’S VISIT NOT TO SOLVE GARABAGH CONFLICT – US ENVOY

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
April 18 2006

The US ambassador in Baku Reno Harnish has said Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev’s upcoming visit to the United States will not solve
the long-standing Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Garabagh) conflict.

“The US and Azeri presidents may exchange views on the principles
discussed by the [mediating] OSCE Minsk Group over the past two years,
while the conflict resolution depends on future meetings between the
Azeri and Armenian leaders,” Harnish told local ATV channel.

The envoy said Aliyev’s visit will be essential in terms of bilateral
ties as well as Azerbaijan’s development on the regional and global
scale.

Harnish said he had no specific information concerning bilateral
documents to be signed during the visit.

“I have focused my attention on the discussions to be held by the Azeri
president. He will hold important talks with a number of White House
officials, including Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary
of Energy Samuel Bodman, Treasury Secretary John Snow and others. A
meeting between the two countries’ presidents will be held as well.”

The ambassador added that President Aliyev may also meet with ethnic
and religious groups, representatives of democratic institutions and
businesspeople. A number of regional issues will be in focus during
the meetings, including the Iran problem.