RULING NEW AZERBAIJAN PARTY PREFERS TO DISCUSS ISSUE OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

TREND News Agency, Azerbaijan
June 14 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / corr. Trend S.Ilhamgizi / The Deputy Chairman of
ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP), MP Ali Ahmadov, said commenting on
the party’s participation in Karabakh Forum organized by the opposition
that the ruling party prefers to discuss the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh
with international organizations that may assist in resolving the
problem, but not to discuss it within the country. He stressed that
responsible State bodies are functioning in the direction of the
conflict settlement. To resolve the conflict, Azerbaijan’s President,
Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov, are continuing
peaceful talks with Armenia.

According to Ahmadov, the basic participation of the Azerbaijani
community and political parties in this process may be their support
to the works and talks implemented by the State Head and their unity.

"Of course, the position of Azerbaijani society in Nagorno-Karabakh
issue is unanimous. Everybody wishes to see a solution to this conflict
and restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

Therefore, we consider that we should present the conflict to
discussions outside the country. We should try to inform the
international community of Azerbaijan’s goal and position," Ahmadov
said.

Ahmadov said that NAP’s absence from the events dedicated to the
Karabakh issue does not mean that their part is indifferent towards
the complicated situation. "On the contrary, NAP tries to assist in
resolving the conflict in a more beneficial manner," Ahmadov said.

According to him, NAP made a prompt reaction to the statement of
Russian Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Yuri Merzlyakov, who changed
his position afterwards.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries started in 1988
due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenia has
occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani lands including the Nagorno-Karabakh
region and its seven surrounding districts. From 1992 to the present
time, these territories have been under Armenian occupation. In 1994,
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a cease-fire agreement at which time
the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
(Russia, France and USA) are holding peaceful negotiations.