AZERI, ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS MAY MEET AFTER FMS’ BRUSSELS TALKS

Today, Azerbaijan
Oct 31 2006

New proposals of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs connected with Nagorno
Karabakh conflict will be discussed in Brussels meeting of Foreign
Ministers.

According to Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov,
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents’ meeting will also depend on
the result of these negotiations. The sides will look through the
proposals of co-chairs. "We discuss the ideas at present. You know
that we must consider not only Azerbaijan’s position, but also the
other side’s position. If the sides come to any agreement in the
next negotiations then co-chairs will start to visit the region. Only
after that the presidents can meet."

As to the changing of format of OSCE, Mammadyarov says that of Minsk
Group’ mandate was defined according to the decision of OSCE adopted
on April 12, 1992. And the conflict sides were also considered there.

According to Elmar Mammadyarov, if there is any need to change, it
must be started from OSCE. But it needs a lot of time. Generally,
Mammadyarov think that co-chairs’ activity became more active lately.

"The co-chairs did a very good thing. A resolution connected with
Armenia and Azerbaijan was adopted for the first time in UN General
Assembly. Meanwhile, the issue on frozen conflicts within the frames
of GUAM will be discussed during the visit of Gela Bezhuashvili to
Azerbaijan."

URL: