DIFFERENCES ON GARABAGH SETTLEMENT PERSIST

AzerNews Weekly
Feb 4 2009
Azerbaijan

International mediators brokering a settlement to the Upper (Nagorno)
Garabagh conflict expressed hope after last week`s meeting of
Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sarkisian
in Zurich, Switzerland. At the meeting it was decided that the two
countries would strike a common ground on resolving the long-standing
dispute.

"The co-chairs hope the parties will be able to bridge these remaining
differences in the near future to secure a peace agreement that is
far better for all parties than the status quo. Their goal is a just
and balanced agreement based upon the Helsinki Final Act principles
of territorial integrity, self-determination, and non-use of force,"
the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group said in a statement.

The co-chairs – Bernard Fassier of France, Yuri Merzlyakov of Russia
and Matthew Bryza of the United States – traveled to Baku on January
19, where they met with President Aliyev and Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov, and to Yerevan on January 20, where they met with
President Sarkisian and Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian.

The mediators again met as a group with the foreign ministers in
Zurich on January 27 and organized a joint meeting with Presidents
Aliyev and Sarkisian in Zurich on January 28, on the sidelines of
the World Economic Forum.

The co-chairs explored with the two presidents their thoughts on
how to finalize the basic principles on the peaceful settlement of
the Garabagh conflict, proceeding from the proposal presented to the
sides at the OSCE Ministerial Conference in Madrid in November 2007.

The co-chairs agreed to work with the foreign ministers on elaborating
proposals "for the consideration of the two presidents on the most
important remaining differences between the sides existing within
the framework of the basic principles."

US mediator Matthew Bryza said the presidents` meeting proceeded
positively and constructively, and progress was achieved in narrowing
the differences between the conflicting sides on the basic principles
of the peace process. He noted that the co-chairs would visit the
region in February "to further move forward the positive environment
achieved."

Overall, the co-chairs described both the presidential and ministerial
talks as a step toward settling the Garabagh conflict.

The two ministers also expressed their satisfaction with the outcome
of presidential talks.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Minister said the parties discussed both the
principles of the peace process that are currently being planned and
the existing peace.

"There are some issues pertaining to the basic principles that remain
to be agreed upon. Each president stated his views on these issues
in terms of mutual understanding. Naturally, this is a complicated
process, but it is necessary to take steps moving forward. There is
no other way," Mammadyarov said.

Armenian Foreign Minister Nalbandian said the talks had been held in
line with the basic documents outlining the peace process.

"Both presidents stressed a certain dynamics in the Garabagh conflict
settlement from the viewpoint of holding talks on a regular basis. With
each meeting, the sides are understanding each other better and trying
to resolve outstanding challenges and hurdles.

"I would also like to note that we are now talking about drafting the
principles of the conflict settlement. After the basic principles
are agreed upon, the parties will tackle work on basic documents,"
Nalbandian added.

The Zurich talks were the third meeting between the Azerbaijani
and Armenian leaders. The two earlier met in St. Petersburg and
Moscow. Their previous meeting in the Russian capital, which took place
at the request of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on November 2,
2008, concluded with the signing of a declaration, the first document
inked by the two heads of state in the past 16 years.

Armenia and Azerbaijan waged a war over the mountainous region of
Upper Garabagh in the early 1990s, which claimed some 30,000 lives and
displaced about one million Azerbaijanis. Armenia has been occupying
over 20% of Azerbaijan`s internationally-recognized territory since
then. The ceasefire accord was signed in 1994, but peace talks have
accomplished little so far. Sporadic clashes on the frontline continue.