ARMENIAN FM HAILS ARMENIAN, AZERBAIJAN INTELLECTUALS’ CONTACTS

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
June 29, 2007 Friday 10:04 AM EST

Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian told Tass on Friday he hailed
Thursday’s trip by a group of Armenian and Azerbaijan intellectuals
to Stepanakert, Yerevan and Baku.

"Now the lack of trust between the two peoples is one of the obstacles
at the settlement negotiations. Trust should be restored by all
means. Otherwise it will be difficult to make a compromise decision. In
this sense it is a very positive development intellectuals from
Armenia and Azerbaijan at the initiative of Armenian and Azerbaijani
ambassadors in Moscow have gathered together and decided to make this
trip," the Armenian foreign minister said.

He especially noted the fact that both ambassadors – Armen Smbatian
and Pollad Byul-Byul-ogly – were former culture ministers.

The authors of the idea, backed by the presidents of both countries at
the St. Petersburg summit, were the Armenian and Azerbajani ambassadors
in Moscow, Oskanian said.

He hopes that "the initiative will be built up from."

Smabatian highly appreciated the results of the visit to the Azerbajani
capital, the minister said.