NAGORNO-KARABAKH: ARMENIANS AND AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENTS HAVE PRODUCTIVE TALKS

Eurasianet

June 4, 2009

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev held face-to-face talks for about two hours on June 4 in
St. Petersburg, Russia, raising hopes for positive movement in the
Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

Officials from both countries provided no details about the substance
of the presidential discussion. Earlier, Russian officials sought to
dampen expectations that the latest round of direct discussions between
the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents would make much progress toward
a peace settlement. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

"We have not set for ourselves the utmost goal of preparing
new agreements or in-depth discussion of this process," Russian
presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko was quoted by ITAR-Tass as
saying. "We are trying to support the format of direct contact between
the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia."