Vatican official calls on Azerbaijan, Armenia to compromise over Karabakh

ANS TV, Baku
21 May 06

[Presenter] The settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh problem depends on
both sides. The sides should make some compromises, the Vatican’s
Secretary for Relations with States Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, has
said. He wants displaced people to return to their homeland.

[Correspondent] The Vatican wants the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict to be
resolved soon and displaced people to return to their homeland,
Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, who is in Baku on a visit, has said. He
said that the settlement of any conflict required compromises from the
sides.

[Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, speaking in English with Azeri
voice-over] The Catholic Church feels sorry for people forced to leave
their homes and property. This is very dramatic for them [as heard].
We cannot say which way is the best to resolve the conflict. This is
up to the responsible people, to Azerbaijani and Armenian politicians
to decide. However, compromises and even s acrifices by both sides
are vital for the settlement of the conflict.

[Correspondent] Lajolo highly valued the fact that Muslims and
Christians live in conditions of religious tolerance in Azerbaijan and
said he would visit the site of a new Catholic church to be
constructed in Baku.

He did not forget Catholic Christians living in Azerbaijan and
attended a service at the Roman Catholic Church in Baku.

[Passage omitted: itinerary of Lajolo’s visit to Baku]