ALIYEV SAYS KARABAKH SETTLEMENT POSSIBLE ONLY ON LEGAL BASIS
by Sevindzh Abdullayeva and Viktor Shulman

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
October 11, 2006 Wednesday

The resolution of the Karabakh conflict "can only be possible on a
legal basis", Azerbaijani President Ilkham Aliyev said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a press conference after top-level talks with Romania,
Aliyev said the conflict was "the biggest source of threat to regional
stability and security."

"Azerbaijan recognises the territorial integrity of all states of the
world and demands that its territorial integrity be recognised too,"
the president said.

He stressed that his country had become a U.N. member with
Nagorno-Karabakh as its part.

In his words, "different measures may be taken" to ensure the
security of the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh, including
"the provision of a high status of autonomy" to this region.

"But separating Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan, creating a second
Armenian state in its territory or incorporating it into Armenia
cannot be a subject of talks," Aliyev said.

He thanked the Romanian leadership for the support of this position
stated in a joint declaration signed by the presidents of the two
countries in Baku.

Aliyev believes that all conflicts should be resolved on the basis
of unified approaches. "If a settlement is based not on international
law but on some other principles, this will have negative consequences
for the whole region," he warned.

The president of Romania called for cooperation with Azerbaijan in
resolving "frozen conflicts", including the Nagorno-Karabakh one.