CHANGING FORMAT OF OSCE MINSK GROUP NOT IN DISPOSAL OF MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS: HEAD OF AZERBAIJANI COMMUNITY OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Jan 17 2008

Azerbaijan, Baku, 17 January /corr. Trend E.Huseynli / Changing
the format of the OSCE Minsk Group, established to settle the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, is not in disposal of the Minsk Group
Co-chairs. "The Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh can not be involved in
the negotiation process," the Head of the Azerbaijani Community of
Nagorno-Karabakh, Nizami Bahmanov, reported to Trend on 17 January.

Bernard Fassier, the French Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, said
on 17 January in Yerevan that discussions are being held to involve
Karabakh as a full-value side, in the talks on Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict settlement. As sooner as Karabakh is involved in the
negotiation process as one of the negotiation sides, better it is,
he said.

Bahmanov said that the format of the Minsk Group may be changed during
the OSCE summit. The decision in this structure is being made according
to consensus. Bahmanov said that if Azerbaijan imposes veto on this
decision, the format can be changed.

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

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress