WORLD LEADERS CALL FOR SOLUTION TO ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN DISPUTE

Voice of America
July 10 2009

The United States, France and Russia are calling on the leaders of
Armenia and Azerbaijan to settle their long-running dispute over the
Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.

The three countries that co-chair a committee of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said Friday they are
committed to supporting Armenia and Azerbaijan as the countries
finalize the details of a settlement.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his Armenian counterpart
Serzh Sarkisyan will meet in Russia on July 17 to continue their
negotiations.

But Nagorono-Karabakh’s de facto leader, Bako Sahakyan, has also
demanded a role in the talks.

Speaking in Stepanakert Friday, Sahakyan said attempts to portray
the disputed region as part of Azerbaijan are unacceptable. He said
the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh cannot be debated.

The Armenian-populated enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh declared
independence from Azerbaijan in 1988, sparking a six-year armed
conflict that claimed about 35,000 lives. Firefights have periodically
interrupted a cease-fire that went into effect in 1994.