RETURN OF SEVEN DISTRICTS … PROCLAIMED IN BAKU BY CHAIRMEN OF THE OSCE MINSK GROUP
by R. Orujev
Translated by A. Ignatkin
Source: Ekho (Baku), May 26, 2007, EV
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
May 30, 2007 Wednesday
OSCE MINSK GROUP CHAIRMEN YURI MERZLYAKOV AND BERNARD FASSIER CALLED
A PRESS CONFERENCE; OSCE intermediaries pin their hopes on the future
meeting between presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia at the informal
CIS economic summit in St.Petersburg.
OSCE Minsk Group chairmen Yuri Merzlyakov and Bernard Fassier wrapped
up the first of the two visits to the region (Armenia and Azerbaijan)
with a press conference on the premises of the Embassy of the Russian
Federation in Baku. Their negotiations with President of Azerbaijan,
Ilham Aliyev, resulted in his consent to meet and talk things over
with his Armenian counterpart, Robert Kocharjan, during the informal
CIS economic summit in St.Petersburg in the first half of June.
Asked to elaborate on the talks in Baku and Yerevan, Merzlyakov said:
"We discussed the basic principles of conflict settlement with a
special emphasis on the ones not yet agreed upon. Some of these still
remain, you know. No, we are not at liberty to say what they are. The
negotiating parties themselves asked us not to."
Merzlyakov also commented on the announcement made by Aliyev
concerning the agreement to liberate seven occupied districts around
Nagorno-Karabakh, the issue that had stirred all Armenia. "Speaking
of troop withdrawal from the occupied territories, both sides mean
one and the same thing but express themselves in different terms.
OSCE Minsk Group chairmen mean precisely that – the withdrawal of
troops from all seven districts. It is clear in the meantime that it
cannot be carried out overnight, that it will take time."
"It will also depend on the action plan of international peacekeepers
in the territories in question," Fassier continued. "But all seven
districts must be returned to Azerbaijani jurisdiction."
With the matter of seven districts thus resolved, what was
Nagorno-Karabakh waiting for, journalists asked. "We are dealing
with the occupied districts at this point," Fassier replied. "We
will get down to the future of Nagorno-Karabakh when we are through
with the matter at hand. We believe that this step-by-step approach
is justified. It may even be appraised as the beginning of conflict
settlement. We want refugees and displaced persons to return to their
homes for starters."
The intermediaries were also asked if they had discussed in Baku and
Yerevan the future of the Lachin Corridor since one side was talking
of the complete liberation of all districts around Nagorno-Karabakh,
while Armenia was denying any intention on its part to withdraw from
Lachin. "That’s a difficult matter indeed, and no progress has been
made so far," Merzlyakov said. "We hope the presidents will make
progress at their meeting. The liberation of seven districts will be
discussed, but the establishment of the Lachin Transport Corridor
is being pondered as well." "Within reasonable limits, of course,"
Fassier added.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
