Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
May 7 2008

Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia Meet in Strasbourg
07.05.08 10:44

France, Strasbourg, 6 May / corr. TrendNews A. Maharramli/ The foreign
minister of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov, met with Edward Nalbandyan,
the Armenian foreign minister, in Strasbourg on 6 May along with the
co-chairs of OSCE Minsk group. Both the foreign ministers answered the
questions of journalists after the meeting that took place in the
Permanent Representation of France, under the Council of Europe.

`The meeting was of evaluation character. We as ministers are
representing the positions of our countries. First of all, I should
mention that there are opportunities, wish and will to find a way out
the conflict. We are neighboring countries and we can not avoid
it. These meetings should be continued and we should find ways out of
the problem,’ said Mammadyarov while answering the questions of the
journalists.

Mammadyarov also said that the meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian
Presidents, within the framework of the Economic Forum in Saint
Petersburg in June, is under discussions at present. `There are
several options concerning the meeting of the two Presidents. This
issue was also discussed in today’s meeting. The Presidents will
decide it themselves. Their decision may depend upon the report that
we will submit to the Presidents. The next meeting of the foreign
ministers and that of the presidents depend on their reaction to the
consultations that we held on 6 May. The meeting between the foreign
ministers will take place if the Presidents believe it to be
important,’ he added.

On his part, the Armenian foreign minister said that he was appointed
foreign minister very recently. Nalbandyan added that during the
meeting the ministers reached to an agreement to continue the
talks. `We will be able to find a way out of conflict that our
countries are involved,’ minister said.

The Russian chairman of OSCE Minsk group Yuri Merzlyakov stated that
he is satisfied with the meeting between the Azerbaijani and Armenian
foreign ministers.