FOREIGN MINISTERS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN HAVE POSITIVE VIEW ON KARABAKH PROCESS

AZG Armenian Daily
16/11/2006

Foreign ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia as well as leaders
of the European Union (EU) held a joint press conference in Brussels
yesterday. Vartan Oskanian, RA foreign minister, and his Azerbaijani
counterpart Elmar Mamedyarov were in positive mood in regard of each
other at the press conference. Their comments greatly differed from
their previous statements. Both of them highly estimated the EU’s
Wider Europe: New Neighborhood policy. In response to the questioned
whether the mutually positive mood of the Ministers will be reflected
on the coming negotiations on Karabakh problem, Mr. Oskanian said
that logical proposals of the members of Minsk Group OSCE would be
presented before the negotiations launch. He also emphasized that
there are interesting thoughts on the topic. E. Mamedyarov said that
the issues are to be studied in the short time context.

"Consciousness on necessity to set off the dead point, were we failed
to agree about, has increased", Mamedyarov said. Touching upon the EU
‘New Neighborhood’ policy, Mr. Oskanian said: "Our relations entered
an entirely new stage. The document is quite large and promises
many perspectives.

Integration process has started. In order to get the best results,
we should focus on this policy. We don’t want to have the agreement
only on paper – but to fully realize the prospects. In this case,
Armenia will be able to enter a new level in politics and economy
in 5-years’ time." Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Union Foreign
Relations Commissar, said that the fact that the sides signed the EU
‘New Neighborhood’ policy demonstrates that the countries enter a
new stage in their policies. She added that the basic human values
such as – human rights, democracy and rule of law are to be applied
in the South Caucasus states. Ms Ferrero-Waldner added that EU
takes into account the country’s wills and stimulates their regional
cooperation. Peter Semneby, South Caucasus: EU Special Representative,
said that participation in the EU ‘New Neighborhood’ policy means
considerable investments into the states. These financing must go for
social good, that is – westernization of the population of Armenia
and Azerbaijan. EU will be carefully following parliamentary and
presidential elections in Armenia.

Mr. Semneby emphasized that the elections will be an important
examination for Armenia.