SERIOUS PROGRESS NOT ACHIEVED IN TALKS OF AZERI, ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS IN BUCHAREST – AZERI FM
Author: R.Abdullayev

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
June 6 2006

It is impossible to state on the achievement of a tremendous progress
in a meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents in Bucharest
and at present there is necessity for coordinating the positions
of both conflict sides, Elmar Mammadyarov, the Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister, told journalists on 6 June.

On 6-7 June the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs will hold additional meeting
in Bucharest, which will define the necessity for next round of talks
of the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents.

“There is still hope for the peaceable resolution of the conflict
and we are eager to continue efforts in this direction,” Mammadyarov
underscored. “Work for bringing closer the positions of the conflict
is continuing. The issue on the withdrawal of the Armenian troops from
the occupied territory of Azerbaijan and repatriation of refugees is
under consideration,” the Azerbaijani FM stressed.

Moreover, Mammadyarov noted that Azerbaijan does not rule out possible
application of Triest model in the issue on economic autonomy.

“However, the issue on autonomy concerns not only the Armenia. But
also the Azerbaijani communities of the Nagorno-Karabakh,” said the
Azerbaijani Minister, noting that the issue on referendum found its
exact implication in the Constitution of Azerbaijan.

With respect to rotation of the US Ambassador Steven Mann, the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chair, Mammadyarov noted that the new diplomat was
still to be renamed and the issue will be resolved in the nearest two
months. “I can only state that the United States is really keen on
rapid resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict,” Mammadyarov
underlined.