Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Military Newswire
June 23, 2006 Friday 2:02 PM MSK

Karabakh talks proving unproductive – Aliyev

BAKU June 23

Azeri President Ilham Aliyev has admitted that the negotiations on
Nagorno-Karabakh have proved unproductive.

"Unfortunately, the negotiations on Nagorno-Karabakh have not produced
any result. They are moving ahead but remain inefficient, as we cannot
come to any result," Aliyev said at a graduation ceremony of military
officers from Azerbaijan’s three military academies on Friday.

"We remain committed to negotiations, despite the continued occupation
of our lands and the existence of one million refugees. This fact
manifests our constructiveness. But, unfortunately, Armenia’s non-
constructive position prevents the resolution of the conflict,"
he said.

Aliyev criticized Armenia for ignoring resolutions by the UN Security
Council and other international organizations demanding the immediate
withdrawal of Armenian troops from Azerbaijan and called for reform
to these organizations to ensure they fulfill the decisions that
they pass.

The president positively assessed the international community’s
role in attempting to settle the conflict. "I also highly value the
activity of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen, who are truly trying to
facilitate the resolution of the conflict, but Armenia’s destructive
approach does not provide for this opportunity. In these conditions,
we need to adjust our policy. How long are we supposed to tolerate
the occupation of our lands?" he said.

"I simply regret that we are losing time. Armenia is dragging out
the process," he said.
From: Baghdasarian