OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS, VISITING AZERBAIJAN, ISSUED STATEMENT

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 24 2006

OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, being on a visit in Azerbaijan, issued
joint statement. The statement reads that co-chairs coming together
with OSCE chairman in- office personal representative, in diplomatic
mission is to support the necessity of Nagorno Garabagh conflict
in peaceful way, and stressing the time of solving the problem for
the sides.

“We were received by President Ilham Aliyev, and before that we
met with foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov. We had discussed the
significant aspects of future regulation. We tried to provide condition
for two Presidents’ meeting. Besides it, both countries should prepare
its community to peace not war.”

Our talks in Baku are of constructive character. Tomorrow we will visit
Yerevan, meet with President Robert Kocharyan and foreign minister
Vardan Oskanian and hold of the same character talks and return to
the states we represent and inform our leader”. Co-chairs will also
inform the OSCE and international community of their visit to the
region. “At present, it depends on Azerbaijan and Armenia what will
happen. We leave the country in hopes for development. We are pleased
to be in Baku, and we express our gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev
and Azerbaijani people for their receiving us.”