WRITTEN PROPOSALS OF OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS INTRODUCED TO PRESIDENTS OF AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA

Today
1830.html
Dec 13 2007
Azerbaijan

Written proposals, presented to the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and
Armenia by the OSCE Minsk Group in Madrid on November 29, have been
introduced to the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, as reported
by the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mamedyarov.

He said Azerbaijan supports the continuation of talks in 2008 in the
format of the Prague process. The Foreign Minister noted that the
co-chairs will visit the region once more in mid January.

Yet, he considers that the proposals of the mediators do not lay
basis for the next meeting of the presidents.

Mamedyarov also announced that Azerbaijan does not see any problem
with the attachment of the status of autonomy to Nagorno Garabagh:
"We have mentioned more than once that if the Armenian community
is ready to accept the high form of autonomy, existing in Tatarstan
and Bashkiria in Russia or European countries, there will not be any
problem with Azerbaijan".

The Minister touched upon the issue of coordination of the
negotiated document: "The conflict must be settled step by step. We
must coordinate the issue of withdrawal of troops, engagement of
peacekeeping forces, establishment of communications, mine clearing
of territories, return of displaced persons and conduction of donors’
conference".