AZERI, ARMENIAN LEADERS TO TABLE GARABAGH AGAIN THIS YEAR: OFFICIALS

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
June 7 2006

Baku, June 6, AssA-Irada
Another meeting of Azeri and Armenian presidents Ilham Aliyev and
Robert Kocharian to discuss settlement of the long-standing Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh conflict is scheduled for this year, the head of
the President’s Office international relations department, Novruz
Mammadov, has told journalists.

Mammadov said no information was provided on the latest meeting of
the two leaders in Bucharest, Romania because this would inappropriate
at the current stage in the negotiations.

“The presidents’ meeting on Monday lasted an hour and half. It was then
decided to continue it on the next day. This means work is underway
on certain issues. The talks are challenging and it is difficult to
reach agreement, as Armenia’s position is unacceptable.

They want Upper Garabagh to be granted independence.

“We can say before the international community that it is ridiculous
to grant independence to any area settled by Armenians,” Mammadov said
referring to Kocharian’s speech. He added that the Armenian leader’s
position has not changed.

Mammadov said President Aliyev dismissed the stance of his Armenian
counterpart by saying that this is impossible and the dispute could
be resolved strictly within Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. As
for the Armenians’ demand “to determine their own fate”, they had
done so with the establishment of the Armenian state, he said.

The presidential administration official said it is hard to say at
this point whether the sides have agreed any specific issues. “The
agreements reached on certain details should be put together and the
final principles coordinated.”

Mammadov added that despite all this, the presidents’ meeting in
Bucharest is a step forward.