VISITS OF AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN INTELLIGENTSIA CAN BE ONE OF DIRECTIONS IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT: VICE-SPEAKER
Trend News
07.07.09 16:44
Deputy chairman of the Azerbaijani parliament considers that visit
of intelligentsia to Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia must be appreciated
positively. "Visits of public representatives can be one of directions
in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement," deputy speaker of the
Parliament Bakhar Muradova said at the press-conference.
Azerbaijani and Armenian Ambassadors to Russia Polad Bul-Bul oglu
and Armen Smbatian, as well as Head of Federal Agency for Culture
and Cinematography Mikhail Shvydko are on visit in the unrecognized
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Smbatian, Polad Bul-Bul oglu and Shvydko met
with the President of the unrecognized NKR Bako Saakyan in Khankandi
last week, the Armenian media reported. A six-member Azerbaijani
delegation, as well as two members of the Azerbaijani parliament Asim
Mollazade and Rovshan Rzayev and composer Siyavush Karimi arrived in
Khankandi. The Azerbaijani delegation left for Armenia and met with
President Serzh Sargsyan. At the end of the day, the Azerbaijani and
Armenian delegations met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev,
as well. This is the second visit of the Azerbaijani and Armenian
ambassadors to Russia to the Nagorno-Karabakh. Representatives of the
Armenian and Azerbaijani intelligentsia visited Khankandi, Yerevan
and Baku on June 28 in 2007 upon the initiative of the two countries’
ambassadors to Russia. National leader Heydar Aliyev and Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev always tell about necessity in dialogue
between communities but stressed creation of favorable situation,
Muradova said. "I think that it is time. These mutual visits will
support visits of presidents and assist entire process of talks,"
vice-speaker said. Parliamentary discussions concerning consent to
hold referendum to determine status of Nagorno-Karabakh is not in
agenda, Muradova said. "Referendum can not be urgent until Armenian
forces leave occupied territories, Azerbaijani territorial integrity
is ensured and return of Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh
to native lands," Muradova said. The conflict between the two South
Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial
claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan lost all of Nagorno-Karabakh
except for Shusha and Khojali in December 1991. In 1992-93, Armenian
armed forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and 7 districts surrounding
Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire in
1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and
the U.S. – are currently holding the peace negotiations.