AZG Armenian Daily #123, 30/06/2007

Karabakh Issue

RA FOREIGN MINISTER VARTAN OSKANIAN: ARMENIA’S POSITION UNCHANGEABLE:
DE JURE RECOGNITION OF NAGORNO KARABAKH AND PARTICIPATION OF NKR
REPRESENTATIVES IN TALKS

"Azerbaijan’s problem is the lack of political will to tell the public
about the ongoing talks on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The publics
of both states should be informed of the fundamental settlement
principles. The statements of the sides should not be mutually
exclusive," Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian told a news
conference in Yerevan.

"The international community knows the worth of Ilham Aliyev’s
statements and doesn’t always rate them as adequate," he said.

"Armenia has numerously repeated the settlement principles. These are
the status of Nagorno Karabakh, security guarantees, overland
communication with Armenia, territorial issues, refugees and displaced
persons. The negotiated document contains all these elements but
before determination of the status I will no comment on other
issues. Armenia’s position has undergone no changes since 1997. We
press for de jure recognition of Nagorno Karabakh and participation of
NKR representatives in the talks. I am ready to work with the next NKR
President," the Minister said.

When commenting on possible changes after the NKR presidential
election, Vartan Oskanian said, "This subject is mush spoken about,
however, there is no serious ground for it."

As to the regular meeting of the Armenian and Azeri FMs, Mr Oskanian
said, "The OSCE MG Co-chairs will hold separate negotiations with each
Minister. After that it will be possible to speak of
Oskanian-Mammadyarov meeting."

By Ara Martirosian