NORWAY READY TO FACILITATE GARABAGH SETTLEMENT, ITS OFFICIAL SAYS

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
May 10 2006

Baku, May 8, AssA-Irada
Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Kjetil Skogrand has said his country
stands by to facilitate settlement to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh.

“Just like other countries, we believe the talks on the conflict
resolution will be prolific and peace will be restored in the region.

Official Oslo is ready to provide the needed assistance to speed up
the negotiations,” said Skogrand visiting Baku as part of his visit
to the South Caucasus region.

He noted that Norway supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group
mediating the peace process.

Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met with the Norwegian
official on Monday. In a news briefing after the meeting, Skogrand
reiterated that his government is ready to do its best to achieve a
solution to the long-standing conflict.

Skogrand is also expected to meet with President Ilham Aliyev and a
number of other officials.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress