AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA HAVE DIFFERENT APPROACHES ON RESOLVING NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT: AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION

Trend
Feb 4 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan and Armenia have different approaches on resolving the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"The latest round of talks between the Azerbaijani and Armenian
presidents in Zurich showed the sides still have different approaches
on resolving the conflict, although certain progress has been made,"
head of the International Relations Department of the Azerbaijani
Presidential Administration Novruz Mammadov told Trend News on Feb. 4.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his Armenian counterpart Serzh
Sarkisyan met to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in Zurich on
Jan. 28.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed
forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are currently
holding the peace negotiations.

Talks must continue to resolve the conflict, Mammadov said.

He added that it is too early to speak of any serious progress.

The presidents have made progress understanding several key principles,
OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Matthew Bryza told Trend news in a telephone
conversation.

"The meeting between the presidents was positive and constructive. They
made progress on several key issues," Bryza said.