LATVIA SUPPORTS SOLUTION TO THE NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT BASED ON INTERNATIONAL LAW PRINCIPLES

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 16 2007

Latvia’s Foreign Minister Atris Pabriks, visiting Baku met with his
Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov.

Elmar Mammadyarov said that regional issues, the settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict, economic cooperation, energy cooperation,
holding Azerbaijani days in Latvia and Latvian days in Azerbaijan,
interparliamentary cooperation were discussed during the meeting.

Calling Azerbaijan the economic leader of the region, Atris Pabriks
reminded that Latvia is the member of European Union and NATO and
said Azerbaijan will implement plans for cooperation with these
organizations.

Minister said Latvian investors and tourists are getting interested
in Azerbaijan.

Highly appreciating the relations between the two countries, Mr.Pabriks
underlined the necessity of extending them.

Taking a stance on ‘presidential elections’ in the occupied Azerbaijani
territories, Latvian minister said that his country supports the
solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict based on the norms and
principles of the international law and wishes to see the South
Caucasus countries as friendly and peaceful countries. Pabriks noted
that special plans will be carried out for Azerbaijan’s integration
into NATO and the European Union.

Elmar Mammadyarov said Latvia’s 15-year practice of independence is
very interesting for Azerbaijan. He said Azerbaijan is studying the
experience of these countries.

Mammadyarov also touched upon the mass burial place of Azerbaijani
civilians killed by Armenians at the beginning of the last century.

"It is a very serious problem. The Foreign Ministry is seriously
engaged in this problem," he said.

Commenting on preparation of a general plan of Shusha by Armenians,
who have occupied Azerbaijani territories, Minister Mammadyarov
underlined that this action contradicts peace.

"If an agreement had been reached on the solution to the conflict
and IDPs returned to their places, then preparation of general plan
of Shusha would have been a positive initiative. But in this case it
is unacceptable," he underlined.