Azeri Press Agency
June 5 2008

Iran ready to mediate Nagornyy Karabakh conflict resolution

Baku, 5 June: "Iran has already mediated the resolution of the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict before. Unfortunately, under the influence
of outside forces, our country was sidelined from the mediatory
mission," Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Alireza Sheykh-Attar said at
a news conference in Baku.

He said that his country is ready to mediate the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict settlement if requested by both sides. Even though the
minister considers the OSCE Minsk Group’s activity to be
unsatisfactory, he said that Iran supports these negotiations. Alireza
Sheykh-Attar once again underlined Iran’s support for Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity.

Describing as a provocation the report about Iranian companies
cooperating with the separatist Karabakh regime, the deputy foreign
minister said that no Iranian telecommunications company is
cooperating with Nagornyy Karabakh separatists.

He also commented on the visit to Iran by the new Armenian Defence
Minister Seyran Ohanyan. Mentioning that Iran has 15 neighbouring
countries, he said that such visits are quite normal and that no
issues directed against Azerbaijan were discussed during the meetings
with the Armenian minister.

Alireza Sheykh-Attar said that he supports the idea to establish a
Parliamentary Assembly of Caspian littoral states. Speaking about
Iran’s nuclear programme, the minister said that uranium enrichment
will be continued in Iran despite pressure.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress