AssA-Irada, Azerbaijan
January 22, 2007 Monday

ALIYEV REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO AZERI INTEGRITY, PEACE TALKS

Azerbaijan is striving to settle the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh
conflict based on international law and the world community backs
this stance, President Ilham Aliyev has said. Our territorial
integrity is not and will never be a subject of discussion, Aliyev
told a cabinet meeting on Monday. Azerbaijan is trying to solve the
problem on the basis of international legal norms and all
international organizations have already voiced support for this
position. Aliyev reiterated Bakus intransigent stance on the Garabagh
settlement. Our position remains unchanged. We are committed to the
negotiating process and are in talks within the Prague process
(phased conflict resolution). This format is acceptable and capable
of ensuring that justice prevails and Azerbaijans interests are met,
the president said. Aliyev accused Armenia of sticking to a
non-constructive position and persistently delaying the negotiating
process last year. Upper Garabagh, which is internationally
recognized as part of Azerbaijan, was occupied by Armenia in early
1990s, along with seven other Azerbaijani districts, after
large-scale hostilities that killed up to 30,000 people and forced a
million Azeris out of their homes. The ceasefire accord was signed in
1994, but peace talks have been fruitless so far and refugees remain
stranded.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress