Int’l attention to Nagorno-Karabakh problem may help solve it

Int’l attention to Nagorno-Karabakh problem may help solve it

16.05.2005, 20.54

WARSAW, May 16 (Itar-Tass) – International attention to the problem
of Nagorno-Karabakh may help solve it, Azerbaijan’s President Ilkham
Aliyev said on Monday, addressing the meeting of the Council of Europe
in Warsaw.

He said Azerbaijan “is ready for a compromise, for granting a high
level of autonomy to Nagorno-Karabakh and ensuring security of the
citizens of the region.” Baku and Yerevan, Aliyev believes, “may
achieve progress regarding the territorial integrity of our country.”

“We demand the restoration of the territorial integrity,” Aliyev
said. “In the 21st century it is impossible to remain in the
situation when one member-country of the Council of Europe occupies
the territory of another country.” Meanwhile the Azeri president noted
that Baku “is heartened by the approach of the Council of Europe to
the matter.” He believes it is possible to achieve a peaceful solution
by the implementation of the resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe that was passed in January of this year.

Aliyev noted, “The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh led to large loss of
life, to the occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory, to
the violation of one of the principles of the Council of Europe – human
rights.” “The European Union, the Council of Europe, the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe should give more attention to
the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh that destabilizes the situation in the
Caucasus and is an obstacle to Azerbaijan’s integration into Europe,”
Aliyev said. “We are for a peaceful settlement of the conflict and we
fulfil all the obligations we assumed entering the Council of Europe,”
he said.