AZERI CIVIC SOCIETY REPRESENTATIVES TO VISIT NAGORNO-KARABAKH

ARMENPRESS
Feb 21, 2008

BAKU, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS: A group of Azerbaijanis representing
different non-governmental organizations are planning a visit to
Nagorno-Karabakh in spring as part of so-called ‘people’s diplomacy’
aimed to help Armenia and Azerbaijan find a mutually acceptable peace
formula for resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The news was announced by Arzu Abdulaeva, the chairwoman of the
Helsinki Civil Assembly National Committee of Azerbaijan.

The ten-member group, according to her, will spend one week in
Nagorno-Karabakh.

She said leaders of both Armenia and Azerbaijan shoulder exercise
equal efforts to find an end to the dispute.

She said they want to go to Nagorno-Karabakh as ‘such visits are
important for understanding, on both sides that Armenians and Azeris
have no alternative to peaceful co-existence."

However, chairman of a radical Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO),
Akif Naghi, said no Azeri must travel to Nagorno-Karabakh or Armenia
as long as Armenians continue ‘occupation of Azeri regions."

In a related news a top Azerbaijani diplomat said his country’s
president is not prepared yet for meeting with new president of
Armenia to resume face-to-face talks over the resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Deputy foreign minister Araz Azimov told Trend news agency that such
a meeting needs to be preceded by careful preparation and besides,
it should be initiated by the OSCE Minsk Group’s cochairmen.

In February 19 election prime minister Serzh Sarkisian won an outright
victory with almost 53 percent of the vote to become Armenia’s next
president.

Azimov said he did know when the Minsk group’s cochairmen may visit
the region.