AZERBAIJAN NOT READY FOR MEETING WITH ARMENIAN NEW PRESIDENT – DEPUTY MINISTER

Trend News Agency
21.02.08 15:25

Azerbaijan, Baku, 21 February / Trend News corr. I.Alizadeh /
Azerbaijan is not ready to meet with the new President of Armenia to
hold negotiations on THE regulation of THE Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"Time is needed to prepare for the meeting. The initiative of
OSCE Minsk Group is necessary in order to hold negotiations on the
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," Araz Azimov, the Deputy
Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, stated to journalists.

The presidential elections were held in Armenia on 19
February. According to the latest information by Armenian Central
Election Commission, Serj Sarkisan, Prime Minister, collected about
52.86% of votes and won the elections. Armenian opposition does not
agree with the results.

Azimov said that the new initiatives would define the next steps
which Azerbaijan will take. The date for the co-chairmen’ visit to
the region has not yet been announced.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in
1988, due to the Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since
1992, the Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven neighbouring
districts. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire
agreement which ended the active hostilities. The Co-Chairs of the
OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding
the peaceful negotiations.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress