BRITISH NGO CALLS FOR DIVULGING GARABAGH TALKS

AzerNews Weekly
Feb 11 2009
Azerbaijan

A British non-governmental organization is in talks with Azerbaijan and
Armenia about divulging talks on settling the long-standing conflict
over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh. This according to Dennis Sammut,
Executive Director of the London Information Network on Conflicts
and State-building (LINKS).

LINKS is engaged in promoting peace and democratic state-building in
countries in transition. The group has been operating in Azerbaijan
for 10 years.

Sammut told Radio Liberty that discussions on divulging peace talks
were underway with Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders. "Our main proposal
is to make the Garabagh talks as transparent as possible."

He maintained that providing comprehensive information about ongoing
talks to the public through radio and television broadcasts was
illogical. At the same time, the two governments and the OSCE
Minsk Group brokering the peace process should not keep the talks
secret. "The public should be informed about what is being discussed."

Sammut said it would also be appropriate to hold discussions on the
course of peace talks in the Azerbaijani parliament.

"However, if the debate serves nationalist agendas, everyone tries
to show how patriotic they are and if all aspects of the problem
are not considered, it would have an opposite effect. Such a debate
should be low-key and tranquil, aim at the long-term perspective,
and it should create public confidence in the future."

Sammut also said mutual visits by Azerbaijani and Armenian
intellectuals could be resumed soon.

He noted that such visits should be carefully planned ahead of
time. "We are not talking here about putting a group of people on a
bus and driving them to Baku or Yerevan. These visits are important,
and we are holding talks with the governments and civil societies in
both countries on when suitable conditions will be provided for them."

Mutual visits by Azerbaijani and Armenian intellectuals took place
some time ago. However, the initiative raised eyebrows among the
Azerbaijani public.

Sammut also said the Garabagh mediators will soon have coordinators and
their appointment has been reflected in proposals recently forwarded
to the Minsk Group and the leaderships of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The mediators have agreed to have their own coordinators who will
regularly work with NGOs.

Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict for nearly
two decades. Peace talks began after a lengthy war that ended
with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994 but has seen few tangible
results. Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other
Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law.