TERRITORY EXCHANGE BETWEEN BAKU, YEREVAN NOT ON AGENDA: AZERBAIJAN’S FOREIGN MINISTER

Trend News Agency
Aug 1 2008
Azerbaijan

Russia, Moscow, 1 August /Trend News corr. R.Agayev/ Exchange of
territories is not on agenda of the peace negotiations on settlement of
Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "Exchange of territories
is not on agenda at the moment," Azerbaijan’s Minister for Foreign
Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov said at a briefing in Moscow on 1 August,
commenting on the consultations with his Armenian counterpart Edward
Nalbandyan.

Exchange of territories between Azerbaijan and Armenia in order to
settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was again exaggerated by media
in the region. Experts said exchange of territories would improve
the trust and would promote achievement of stable peace between
the countries.

Exchange of territories was suggested for the first time by American
analyst Paul Goble in mid 90s.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began
in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since
1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which
time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group (Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful
negotiations.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress