‘SIGNIFICANT’ PROGRESS IN ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN TALKS
Jane’s Intelligence
Nov 23 2009
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev (left) and Armenian President Serge
Sarkisian (right), pictured with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in
2008, made ‘substantial progress’ in talks over Nagorno-Karabakh in
Germany on 22 November. (PA)Article ToolsFull Article for Subscribers
According to the French mediator Bernard Fassier, of the Organisation
for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), significant progress
was made in the meeting between Armenian President Sergh Sarkisian
and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev. However, he also said
that "some difficulties" had been identified, and neither side has
committed to any difficult concessions, most likely relating to the
proposed withdrawal of Armenian units from some districts surrounding
Nagorno-Karabakh.
The talks were the sixth time the two presidents have met this year
as major efforts are made to find a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh
dispute, which has remained unresolved since a 1994 ceasefire
ended fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan. On 20 November,
Aliyev stated that if the Munich talks failed, force could be used
to re-take the Armenian-occupied enclave, which is located within
Azerbaijan’s borders.