OFFICIAL DOWNPLAYS OSCE GARABAGH EFFORT

AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
July 6 2006

An Azeri official has cited a "gap" in the OSCE’s activity with regard
to conflict resolution, saying it has failed to reach settlement to
existing conflicts, including the long-standing Armenia-Azerbaijan
dispute over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh.

"The [mediating] OSCE Minsk Group has yet to attain considerable
progress. I therefore don’t agree with statements that it is a more
important and influential organization to settle conflicts," Deputy
Foreign Minister Vagif Sadikhov told journalists.

Sadikhov said last year the Minsk Group stepped up its activity. The
elections are over both in Azerbaijan and Armenia and the MG co-chairs
are trying to take advantage of this period to attain progress before
the next elections.

"Our position is more justifiable than that of Armenia. The latter
is in a very bad shape and is therefore maneuvering and changing
course all the time. Azerbaijan, however, adheres to a position of
principle. If the accelerated efforts by the co-chairmen simply aim
to pull wool over our eyes, we will not support this," the deputy
minister said.

Sadikhov said that not only the two presidents but also international
organizations involved in conflict settlement bear responsibility
for the unresolved status of the Garabagh conflict.