TREND News Agency, Azerbaijan
July 28 2007

Peaceful Population of Nagorno-Karabakh Already Wish to Reside as
Part of Azerbaijan: Deputy Foreign Minister

Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend A.Ismaylova / The Deputy Foreign
Minister of Azerbaijan, Araz Azimov, calls on the co-chairs of the
OSCE Minsk Group to come to a common conclusion on Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict settlement by the end of year.

He stressed that if the situation continues so in this regard it will
not be useful for any of the conflicting sides. `According to the
political agendas of their countries and taking into consideration
their personal and professional careers, the co-chairs should, by the
end of year, define what needs to do. We hope that this troika will
make serious and decisive efforts to clarify the situation,’ Azimov
said.

According to the Deputy Foreign Minister, Azerbaijan hopes that the
co-chairs will insist on the project of base principles which was
devised in the last three years.

As regards the to term-frame given to the Armenian side through the
will of the Armenian President, Robert Kocharyan, during his recent
meeting with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, in
Saint-Petersburg, Azimov noted that the given time was sufficient.
`International organizations will liven up their activities from the
mid August. Armenian Government is likely to summarize the interest
of its society and to review its positions. I hope it will be
constructive,’ he said.

According to Azerbaijani diplomat, Kocharyan is protecting the
interests of Armenian community of Nagorno-Karabakh more than the
position of Armenia. `Sometimes it is outside the framework. We are
considering the issue with the Armenian side. I believe the peaceful
population residing in Nagorno-Karabakh already wish to reside as
part of Azerbaijan,’ Azimov said.