AZERI, ARMENIAN FMS MAY MEET OVER NAGORNO-KARABAKH SEPT. 13
RIA Novosti, Russia
Sept 6 2006
BAKU, September 6 (RIA Novosti) – The foreign ministers of Azerbaijan
and Armenia may meet in London September 13 to outline principles
for resolving a long-running territorial dispute, the Azeri minister
said Wednesday.
The conflict between the two former Soviet republics over
Nagorno-Karabakh, a region in Azerbaijan with a largely Armenian
population, first erupted in 1988 when it claimed independence from
Azerbaijan to join Armenia.
Over 30,000 people were killed on both sides between 1988 and 1994,
and over 100 died following a 1994 ceasefire. Nagorno-Karabakh
remained in Armenian hands, but tensions between Azerbaijan and
Armenia have persisted.
"There are plans to meet with [Armenian minister Vardan] Oskanyan
and co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group in London on September 13,"
Elmar Mamedyarov said.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk
Group was created in 1992 to encourage a peaceful resolution to the
conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh. The
group is co-chaired by U.S., Russian and French representatives.
Mamedyarov said Thursday he spoke by telephone with Bernard Fasier,
the French co-chairman of the Minsk Group, who suggested the next round
of conflict-resolution talks could be held in Paris September 12-13,
or in London September 14-15.
Mamedyarov said he agreed to meet with his Armenian counterpart and
was discussing the format to be adopted for the talks.
Azerbaijan and Armenia held the latest round of Nagorno-Karabakh
talks June 13 in Paris.