APA news agency, Baku
July 9 2009

Azeri official upbeat about forthcoming Karabakh talks in Moscow

A senior official from the ruling New Azerbaijan Party has said that
results are expected from the forthcoming meeting between the
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents in Moscow on 18 July that will
discuss a solution to the long-standing dispute over the Nagornyy
Karabakh region, APA news agency reported on 9 July.

"Meetings are held at the level of presidents in order to achieve
results," APA quoted the party’s Executive Secretary Ali Ahmadov as
saying. "We understand results as the liberation of our occupied
territories and the return of displaced persons. If the negotiations
have intensified, and it is possible to hold meetings at the level of
the presidents, this means that some results are expected from these
meetings."

Ahmadov also described as optimistic Russia’s involvement in the
Nagornyy Karabakh settlement process, APA said.

"We hope that these meetings produce positive results," APA quoted
Ahmadov as saying. "Everyone realizes that time has come to resolve
the conflict. Stability in the South Caucasus depends on a fair
settlement to this conflict. By a fair settlement we mean ensuring
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. The settlement of the conflict in
any other manner is impossible."

In the meantime, the US co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, which
mediates a solution to the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, has said that
no framework agreement will be signed during the Moscow meeting of the
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents, APA reported. Matthew Bryza said
that signing a framework agreement was a process that required some
time, APA said.