NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT DEPENDS NOT ON ARMENIAN HEAD BUT ON ARMENIAN POLICY: AZERBAIJANI POLITICIAN

Trend News Agency
19.09.2007 18:15:27

Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend S.Agayeva / Azerbaijan’s independent
politician Rasim Musabeyov considers it inaccurate to expect a
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict before and even after
the presidential elections in Armenia.

"The settlement of the conflict depends not on the replacement of
the Head of Armenia, but on change in Armenia’s policy," Musabeyov
said in an interview with Trend.

Highlighting the immense work of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group, who testify that the peaceful agreement is almost ready,
Musabeyov stressed that such a case has already taken place in
history. In 1996-1997 the conflicting sides not only devised a
peaceful agreement but also the former Presidents of Azerbaijan,
Heydar Aliyev, and of Armenia, Levon Ter-Petrosyan, even announced
their agreement on the gradual plan. But nothing was achieved as a
result, the politician said.

"I have little hope that currently the work of the co-chairs will
bring concrete results. If after the elections the Armenians continue
their previous ambitious plans with regards to Azerbaijan, the conflict
will not be resolved," Musabeyov said.

Commenting on the statement of the OSCE Minsk Group, Matthew Bryza said
that the peaceful agreement is almost ready and several issues remain
unsettled. The politician said that if these issues will be dealing
with the existence or non-existence of Nagorno-Karabakh as part of
Azerbaijan, it will prevent the implementation of all previously
reached agreements.

Under the current situation Azerbaijan does not expect large-scale
changes in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, said the Deputy
Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Araz Azimov, commenting on the results
of the recent visit of the OSCE Minsk Group to Azerbaijan.

"I do not believe we can obtain any progress in the conflict settlement
from the current government of Armenia," he said.

The Deputy Minister once again confirmed the position of Baku on the
peaceful settlement saying that Azerbaijan is ready to support the
efforts of the mediators of the Minsk Group and intends to continue the
settlement talks within the Prague process. "It would be unfortunate
to lose the results achieved within the Prague process," he said.

The conflict between the two countries of South Caucasus began in 1988
due to territorial claims by Armenia against Azerbaijan. Since 1992,
Armenia has occupied 20% of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh
region and its seven surrounding districts. 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 the US) are currently holding peaceful negotiations.