Trend, Azerbaijan
Nov 7 2009

Azerbaijani, Armenian presidents to continue discussions on
Nagorno-Karabakh: OSCE MG

Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 7 / Trend News E.Tariverdiyeva /

In Baku and Yerevan, both presidents reiterated their commitment to
continue their discussions, with the objective to make further
progress toward reaching an agreement on the basic principles for the
peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, statement of the
Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group says.

"They accepted the proposal of the Co-Chairs to organize their next
bilateral meeting, the sixth such meeting this year, before the end of
November at a time and place to be confirmed," the statement says.

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs (Ambassador Yuri Merzlyakov, the
Russian Federation; Ambassador Bernard Fassier, France; Ambassador
Robert Bradtke, United States) visited Azerbaijan and Armenia on Nov.
4-6.

They met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev November 5 in Baku before
traveling to
Yerevan November 6 to meet Armenian President Serzh Sargsian.

They returned to Baku November 6 for a second meeting with President
Aliyev, the statement says.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are
currently holding the peace negotiations.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress