ARMENIA’S AGREEMENT REGARDING DOCUMENT ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH MAY BE CRUCIAL PROGRESS: AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER

TREND
13.09.2007 12:03:24

Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend K.Ramazanova / Armenian’s agreement
regarding the document [on the resolution to the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh], which was submitted to the table of
talks, could be a crucial step in the negotiations, Elmar Mammadyarov,
the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, said in Baku on 13 September.

Earlier, Vardan Oskanian, the Armenian Foreign Minister, described
the document as fair. "This document reflects all the necessary
components," he said. He stated that the proposals enabled the problem
to be resolved. "This is a balanced document and we are prepared to
continue talks on this basis," Oskanian noted.

The Azerbaijani foreign minister stated that Armenia did not agree
with a proposal made by the OSCE Minsk Group, which was sounded before
the recent meeting of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia in St.

Petersburg. "If the Armenian foreign minister has stated that they
agree with the document under discussion, this means the Armenians
have changed their opinion," Mammadyarov stressed

The conflict between the two countries of South Caucasus began in 1988
due to territorial claims by Armenia against Azerbaijan. Armenia has
occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani land including the Nagorno-Karabakh
region and its seven surrounding Districts. Since 1992, these
territories have been under the occupation of the Armenian Forces. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time
the active hostilities ended. The Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
(Russia, France and USA) are currently holding peaceful negotiations.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress