Azeri analysts approve of latest OSCE principles on Karabakh – TV

ANS TV, Baku
29 Jul 06

[Presenter] Several Azerbaijani intellectuals have signed a statement
on the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. It says that the
latest principles of the OSCE Minsk Group can be considered acceptable
for Azerbaijan and the adoption of those principles may be a good
basis for starting the peace process.

[Correspondent, over video of Minsk Group co-chairmen] The latest
principles of the OSCE Minsk Group for a peaceful solution to the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict can be viewed as acceptable for Azerbaijan,
several Azerbaijani political analysts, public figures, scholars and
journalists said in a statement. The statement was signed by
political analysts Eldar Namazov, Rasim Musabayov, Zardust Alizada,
the director of Turan news agency, Mehman Aliyev, and others.

Political analyst Rasim Musabayov has said that the statement aims to
disprove the allegations that Azerbaijan has taken a non-constructive
stand in the peace talks.

[Rasim Musabayov, captioned] The Azerbaijani side must behave in such
a way in the talks to fully expose Armenia’s intentions of occupation
to the entire world. We believe that the document proposed by the
co-chairmen can be developed further and there are opportunities to
achieve progress in the talks this year.

[Correspondent] The statement comments on each of the principles
proposed by the co-chairmen after the resolution of the OSCE Minsk
Group adopted in Vienna on 22 June [2006] was studied. For example,
the authors of the statement understand that a special approach is
required towards the liberation of [Azerbaijani] Kalbacar and Lacin
districts bordering Armenia. They believe that this approach may be in
the form of a schedule for withdrawal of the Armenian troops, the
establishment of communications connecting the population of Nagornyy
Karabakh to Armenia etc.

But eventually, those districts must be returned like other occupied
Azerbaijani districts, military hardware must be fully removed from
Nagornyy Karabakh and communications must be restored between
Azerbaijan and [Azeri exclave of] Naxcivan.

Ceyhun Asgarov, ANS.