OSCE CHAIRMAN: PARTICIPATION OF ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF NAGORNO KARABAKH IN THE TALKS IS NOT TODAY’S WORK

Azeri Press Agency
Feb 28 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku.Lachin Sultanova-APA. "My visit to Azerbaijan was productive,"
Ilkka Kanerva, OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister said
a press conference on the outcomes of the visit, APA reports.

He stated that he visited Azerbaijan in the framework of his tour
to South Caucasus and will visit Central Asian countries in several
weeks. The aim of his visit was to promote the principles and activity
of OSCE. Mr. Kanerva noted that the three countries expressed their
commitment to European values and principles.

"We want pluralist democracy in the region," he said. He sated
that he carried out discussions with Azerbaijani leadership on the
development of bilateral relations. He noted that Nagorno Karabakh
conflict was one of the priorities of the visit and he expressed
his confidence that the conflict will be solved in the framework
of international legal norms. He stated that other aim of his visit
was to continue democratic reforms and estimated it as a main issue
of European integration. He noted that his meeting with opposition
representatives was productive. He stressed that Nagorno Karabakh
conflict can be solved peacefully.

"The conflict parties should understand it," he said. He stated
that I do not agree substitution of MG with UN and stressed that
participation of Armenian Community of Nagorno Karabakh in the talks
is not today’s work. He estimated Azerbaijan’s commitments before
OSCE and stressed that Azerbaijan is able to modernize the society
and develop into Europe.

"The two commitments mean that, Azerbaijan will follow recommendations
on elections. There is a great need to follow recommendations on
integration into Europe and European values.

Azerbaijan demonstrated its will on this field," he said.