International Herald Tribune, France
May 5 2007

Azerbaijan leader’s talk of Karabakh settlement principles angers Armenia
The Associated PressPublished: May 4, 2007

RAMANI, Azerbaijan: Azerbaijan’s president on Friday laid out what he
said were basic principles for the resolution of his country’s
dispute with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, angering Armenian leaders
who disputed his suggestion that they have assented to the terms he
described.

Aliev’s remarks appeared more likely to deepen distrust between the
nations than to bring them closer to resolving the dispute over the
territory, which is inside Azerbaijan but has been controlled by
Armenian and local ethnic Armenian forces since a six-year war that
ended in 1994.

Tensions remain high between Armenia and Azerbaijan, former Soviet
republics in the Caucasus, and more than a decade of coaxing from
international mediators led by the United States, Russia and France
has yet to bring an agreement on the status of the territory.

Aliev said the basic principles of a settlement were the
unconditional return of seven districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh
that are also under ethnic Armenian control and he return of refugees
to Nagornko-Karabakh, followed by the determination of its political
status.

Aliev, speaking to refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh in the settlement
of Ramani, outside Azerbaijan’s capital Baku, said there was general
agreement on the principles, which he suggested were the basis for
settlement talks shepherded by the international monitors.

The details of settlement talks are usually kept under wraps out of
the concern that revealing them could hurt delicate efforts to
resolve the dispute, which raises strong emotions in both countries.
Aliev said he was discussing them publicly because the Armenian side
had broken confidentiality and made misleading statements.

His words drew a swift and angry response from Armenian officials,
particularly sensitive about the issue ahead of parliamentary
elections later this month, with parliament vice-speaker Vaan
Ovannisian calling accusing him of "obvious lies."

"There is no such agreement," Ovannisian said.

Prime Minister Serge Sarkisian cast doubt on Aliev’s statement that
there was agreement on the unconditional return of all seven
surrounding districts. In the past there have indications that
Armenia would agree to the return of five of the districts on
condition of independence for Nagorno-Karabakh.

"Let him say what he wants, we have already announce our position,"
Sarkisian said.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Vladimir Karapetian said that Armenia’s
position has been and remains "based on the recognition of the
principle self-determination for Nagorno-Karabakh," according to a
ministry statement. "Other questions that are on the negotiating
table, that are under discussion, are secondary and will follow from
recognition of the basic principle," he said.

___

Associated Press Writer Avet Demourian contributed to this report
from Yerevan, Armenia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress