MINISTER SEES NEED FOR FURTHER GARABAGH DEBATE
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
June 7 2006
Baku, June 6, AssA-Irada
The latest meeting between the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents
to discuss settlement of the long-standing Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh
conflict lasted five hours. Discussions were held both between the
presidents and at the level of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs mediating
the peace process.
“It’s premature to talk of any advancement in the negotiations,”
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has said while commenting on the
latest round of Aliyev-Kocharian talks.
He said the presidents had reaffirmed their positions on a number of
issues. “By and large, it is necessary to collate the positions of
both sides. The presidents’ meeting has been completed, while the
co-chairs are still in Bucharest and are preparing a statement on
the meeting outcomes,” Mammadyarov said.
The minister added that consultations should be continued on issues
the parties still diverge on. Therefore, the foreign ministers may
still meet if need be. He did not rule out that the two leaders may
hold talks before the end of this year. Mammadyarov said every meeting
was important, noting that discussions were currently focusing on eight
to 10 issues, while a number of other matters had already been agreed.