US DEPARTMENT OF STATE HOPES FOR ACHIEVEMENT OF POSITIVE RESULTS IN REGULATION OF NAGORNI GARABAGH CONFLICT IN 2007

Demaz.org, Azerbaijan
April 16 2007

US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, Daniel Fried,
answered questions of mass media representatives at "round table"
meeting held in Washington within the frames of program on exchange
of journalists.

Asked "What can you say in connection with blockade of Armenia?",
diplomat said: Republic of Armenia is not in blockade. Its road
through Georgia is open. Armenia’s alleged statement on no-go and
isolation from the world is not real.

Asked about his relation to the fact of occupation of 20% of
Azerbaijani territories by Armenia, D. Fried declared that he would
be brief. He said: We can speak of Nagorni Garabagh hourly. The
main point is to achieve regulation of the conflict. Nagorni Garabgh
conflict should be regulated peacefully. OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
are active in assisting Armenia and Azerbaijan to find ways of
solving the problem. We hope that this year success will be achieved
in regulation of the conflict. We are actively working with France
and Russia in this connection and we have achieved some progress and
hope for achievement of desirable results this year.

Azerbaijan undertook some positive steps in the field of democracy.

However, we hold that much still have to be done. Azerbaijan has many
opportunities for further development and achievement of democratic
future. I hope that these opportunities will be duly used.