FRANCE URGES AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA TO ADVANCE IN NEGOTIATION PROCESS
J.Babayeva

Trend News Agency
May 12 2009
Azerbaijan

France urges Azerbaijan and Armenian to advance in the negotiations
on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement.

"Besides, the United States and Russia, France also urged the conflict
sides to advance in their next meetings, including the St.-Petersburg
meeting to be held in early June at the co-chairs’ initiative," the
statement of the French Foreign and European Affairs Ministry said
on May 12.

Besides the OSCE Minsk Group U.S. and Russian co-chairs, French
co-chair said he is making all efforts to assist Azerbaijan and
Armenia in fairly settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan
lost all of Nagorno-Karabakh except for Shusha and Khojali in December
1991. In 1992-93, Armenian armed forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and 7
districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed
a ceasefire in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia,
France, and the U.S. – are currently holding the peace negotiations.

France said the last meeting between the Azerbaijani and Armenian
presidents set an example for the current negotiations and confirms
a constructive character of attitude established between them.

"France urges the parties to exactly follow rules of primary ceasefire
and documents which were directed to strengthen it," the statement
said.