Nagornyy Karabakh calls for direct talks with Azerbaijan

Arminfo, Yerevan, in Russian 0501 gmt 2 Sep 06

The leader of Azerbaijan’s breakaway province of Nagornyy Karabakh has
called for direct talks with Baku, Arminfo news agency has said.

In his address at the festivities to mark the 15th anniversary of
Nagornyy Karabakh’s secession from Azerbaijan, Arkadiy Gukasyan said:
"I want to confirm readiness of the Karabakh side to conduct a direct
and constructive dialogue with Azerbaijan without any preconditions. I
regard this format of talks as

more natural because it reflects the essence of the problem."
Gukasyan recalled that in 1994 Azerbaijan had signed a cease-fire
agreement with Nagornyy Karabakh, the agency said. "In doing so, the
Azerbaijani leadership in fact recognized Nagornyy Karabakh as a fully
legitimate side to the conflict denying this today," he added.

The agency quoted Gukasyan as saying that bellicose calls could be
explained by the lack of democracy in Azerbaijan. He said that the
settlement of the conflict is possible only through mutual
compromises. "The Karabakh problem cannot be settled militarily. The
war will only bring new losses and suffering to both peoples. I call
on the Azerbaijani side to give up crazy and suicidal revanchist plans
and to resolve all issues, no matter how complicated they are, at the
negotiating table."