Interfax, Russia
Jan 29 2009

BAKU NOTES CERTAIN DYNAMICS IN KARABAKH ISSUE

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov spoke of the
atmosphere of mutual understanding at the Karabakh talks held between
the Azeri and Armenia presidents and foreign ministers in Switzerland
the day earlier.

"Both new and current principles have been discussed," Mammadyarov
told journalists.

There were certain outstanding issues in the basic principles of the
settlement process, which were discussed at the presidents’ level, he
said.

"Each president expressed his opinion in the atmosphere of mutual
understanding. Certainly, it is a complicated process, but one has to
move forward. There is no alternative to it," the Azeri minister said.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said: "Both presidents
noted certain dynamics towards resolving the conflict in a sense that
with every meeting the parties seem to understand better one another
and are trying to resolve the existing problems."

"I would like to note that currently the parties are working on the
conflict resolution principles. Once the basic principles are agreed
upon, the parties will start drawing up the basic documents," he said.

Mathew Bryza, U.S. co-chairman of the OSCE (Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe) Minsk Group also said the meeting was
productive.

We hear that there is some progress, higher dynamics, I can say that
it is a positive element, he said.