ARAZ AZIMOV: ALIYEV-SARKISYAN MEETING TO RESULT IN PROCEEDING PEACEFUL TALKS

arminfo
2008-06-10 12:00:00

ArmInfo-TURAN. "The goal of the Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev’s
meeting with the Armenian President in St. Petersburg was to confirm
his principal positions". He stated that the occupied territories have
to be liberated, the refugees have to be returned to their native
places, and the status of Nagorno-Karabakh has to be determined
with respect to Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,
Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Araz Azimov told media,
commenting on the St. Petersburg meeting of the two Presidents.

"We want the three South Caucasian states to restore their good
neighbor relations," Azimov said. He said the talks about the
settlement will continue, but it is not known yet if the meetings
will take place in the near future. Azimov considers the meeting was
very important, because the Azerbaijani President clarified several
unclear points for himself. On the other hand, the Armenians should
not think that the talks could be delayed.

Baku will work actively at all levels and in all formats to expose
the Armenian position, he said.

Responding Turan’s question about the starting point for Azerbaijan
in the talks, Azimov said it will be the liberation of the occupied
territories and the settlement of the conflict within the frameworks
of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. "Azerbaijan is ready to reach
a compromise within these frameworks. The document submitted to us
in Madrid contained a number of proposals. This draft has changed for
3-4 years, but it is not an official document. None of the sides can
provide its interests at 100% here.

To obtain something, it is necessary to make a compromise, but there
will not be a compromise on such a question as Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity," Azimov stated.