BAKU WANTS NEW MEDIATORS IN KARABAKH TALKS – AMBASSADOR

Interfax News Agency
March 25 2008
Russia

Baku is guided by Moscow’s official position on the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan and wants new countries involved in the
Karabakh settlement, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Russia Polad Byul-Byul
ogly said.

"Russia as such and as a member of the Minsk Group has made statements
on many occasions on recognizing the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan. But various political forces are free to have their
opinions and express them. We, as an embassy, react to them. At the
same time, we are being guided by the statements made by the Russian
Foreign Ministry and by Russia’s political leadership," the Azeri
ambassador said in an interview published in the Nezavisimaya Gazeta
newspaper on Tuesday.

"Moscow has stated sufficiently clearly that it is against separatism
in general and on the Kosovo issue in particular," he said.

The Azeri ambassador also said that Russia’s decision to lift its
embargo on trade with Abkhazia raises questions. "Many politicians
see this as an inconsistent move," he said.

The ambassador commented on the rejection by the Minsk Group co-
chairmen, including Russia, of the UN resolution on Nagorno Karabakh.

"That vote was a test, after which the world for us split into
supporters and opponents of the resolution," the diplomat said.

Stating that the mediator efforts of the other members of the group
should be intensified, he noted the importance of the co-chairmen
countries. "Of course, one can’t do without Russia in the region. But
it is also clear that nowhere in the world can one do without the
United States. I still think that the involvement of fresh players
could be discussed. Why not invite Eastern European countries –
Romania or Poland, for instance?" the Azeri ambassador said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress