US OFFICIAL SAYS 2006 CRUCIAL FOR GARABAGH SETTLEMENT

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
June 7 2006

Baku, June 6, AssA-Irada
A US official has said that a promising option to settle the
long-standing Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict is
currently on the negotiating table and an agreement may be reached now.

Commenting on Sunday’s round of talks between Azerbaijani and Armenian
Presidents in Bucharest, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
Matthew Bryza said the fact it yielded no fruit should not create
hopelessness. The United States is confident that peace talks will
continue and the desired results will be achieved.

“Courage is required from Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Robert
Kocharian. At a time of ongoing negotiations, the presidents are
likely to face daunting tasks,” said Bryza. He said the sides should
act swiftly to achieve a solution on Garabagh soon, as the elections
to be held in the future may delay the process.

“2006 is a crucial year for the conflict resolution and we believe a
solution will be reached, as political developments in Armenia will
be more complex next year,” the American official added.