ARMENIA EXPECTS NEW STAGE IN PEACE TALKS AFTER US MEDIATORS VISIT

AssA-Irada, Azerbaijan
July 24, 2006 Monday

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian has said a new stage
in talks on the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict may begin after
the upcoming visit by the US mediator to the region. We expect the
Azerbaijani side to provide its consent to return to discussions
on the documents currently on the negotiating table, he told a news
conference in Yerevan while commenting on the visit by the US co-chair
of the OSCE Minsk Group, Matthew Bryza, to the two countries that
will begin from Armenia on July 29. Oskanian maintained that Armenia
has put forth a resolute stance on these documents, unlike Azerbaijan.

If Baku agrees to continue negotiations on the disclosed principles,
a new stage in the peace process may begin. The OSCE intermediaries
have lately said there is a framework agreement under discussion and
outlined its key principles. Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian
has said the Minsk Groups recent proposals are acceptable. For all
these years, our goal has been to achieve a package settlement. The
stage-by-stage resolution is unacceptable for us, he said. Margarian
made an outrageous statement, accusing Baku of breaking off peace
talks. He said Azerbaijans alleged withdrawal from talks shows Armenias
strong position. After visiting Yerevan, the American mediator will
visit Upper Garabagh and Baku. He is due to visit Azerbaijan July
30-August 1, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said. Bryza will bring
some new elements that he would like to table in Baku and Yerevan,
he added.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress