AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Oct 6 2006

FM OF AZERBAIJAN SATISFIED WITH RESULTS OF TALKS IN MOSCOW
[October 06, 2006, 22:47:21]

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov has
commented for the Azerbaijan and Russian mass media on results of
negotiations on settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan,
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, held in Moscow with the head of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia of V. Oskanian with
participation of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs.

According to Mr. Mammadyarov intensive negotiations took place in
Moscow, discussed a number of the ideas offered by co-chairmen in the
context of those problems, which have arisen during negotiating
process. ‘Basically, very constructive and productive exchange of
views on main principles of settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict took place. During negotiations, was reached arrangement
that each party takes a pause till October 24 so that to analyze the
discussed ideas. It was decided to continue negotiations at level of
Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia on October 24, 2006 in
Paris’, he has told.

E. Mammadyarov also has informed, that the format of meeting has
begun at presence of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, and further in the
individual order. Then, separately the individual meeting with
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov took place, and
then meetings with co-chairs were held. Special envoy of OSCE
Chairman-In-Office Andrzei Kaspshik also took part in negotiations.

Answering the question whether it is possible to settle the conflict
up to the end of 2006 as it is assumed with the countries of the big
eight, the Minister has noticed, that it is not necessary to be
fastened for any terms. For it is extremely serious and sensitive
question, but we shall try to move ahead in negotiating process. "The
main subject of negotiations is the question on main principles of
settlement, and offers of co-chairmen are based on already turned out
principles which many years are discussed, in the frame of Prague
process. Now, the part of a problem is connected with the status, a
part of problem – with full withdrawal of the Armenian armies. Our
problem is to find that fragile balance on the basis of which we
could move further. We have coordinated main principles of settlement
of the conflict, but there are two not coordinated principles on
which we work. Today, just these principles were discussed’, the
Minister has noted.

Estimating activity of Russia as the co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk
Group, the Minister has declared, that ‘the Russian party has all
opportunities to show, and it shows intensive enough interest that
there was a move during negotiations’. ‘We consider, that Russia is
our both political, and the economic partner, our neighbor. No doubt,
it should play one of key roles in the context of settlement. We see
that in the given direction, Russia has a desire to bring Azerbaijan
and Armenia to the common point that we could pass to the first stage
of settlement. Certainly, such conflict cannot be solved at the same
time, and it is necessary to solve it stage by stage. And the latest
element which will come in mutual relations between Azerbaijan and
Armenia, is the element of trust, having enormous value, and in this
context Russia could play a greater role’, has emphasized E.
Mammadyarov.

The head of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan also stated
that one of the problems the country faces is to lift Azerbaijan on
the level of the regional leader and it will create more
opportunities for peace settlement of the conflict. Currently, we try
that ceasefire was not broken, and simultaneously we work above the
conflict to solve it. It is important for both Azerbaijan and
Armenia, and for entire all region.