ROMANIAN FM: THERE IS HOPE FOR PROGRESS IN KARABAKH ISSUE

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.05.2006 15:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijan “strives for just and stable peace in
the region and prefers the stepwise settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said. In his words,
first the Armenian armed forces should abandon the territories around
Nagorno Karabakh where the refugees will return immediately. At
the second stage the displaced persons should return to Shushi and
other towns. “Only after that the status of Nagorno Karabakh can be
considered,’ he said.

Judging from the sequence sounded by the Azeri FM no progress can be
expected in the conflict settlement in the near future. “The Armenian
side demands guarantees for the right to self-determination of the
Nagorno Karabakh population in exchange for releasing the territories
around Karabakh. Return of Lachin and Shushi is not discussed. Return
of Kelbajar is doubtful. The positions of the sides have not come
closer for a centimeter,” New Time Baku-based newspaper says.

For his part Romanian Foreign Minister Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu remarked
that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict was many times discussed by the
CoE. “Presently a hope for progress appeared. Political dialogue is
of utmost importance at the current stage of the talks. The meeting of
the Presidents may contribute to the alleviation of tension,” he said.