Baku And Yerevan Have Reached Agreement On Karabakh Referendum

BAKU AND YEREVAN HAVE REACHED AGREEMENT ON KARABAKH REFERENDUM

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS General Newswire
June 27, 2006 Tuesday 7:07 PM MSK

The issue of the status of Nagorno- Karabakh ought to be solved by a
referendum, and this has already been agreed on between the presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan, a statement issued by the Armenian Foreign
Ministry on Tuesday reads.

"The issue of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh must be resolved by the
people of Nagorno-Karabakh by way of referendum and the differences in
the negotiations have nothing to do with the issue of the referendum,
because this issue has already been agreed on by the presidents,"
the statement says.

"The disagreements concern priorities in dealing with the aftermath
of the armed conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh," the statement explains.

"The co-chairmen are saying for the first time that the issue of
the status of Nagorno-Karabakh has to be resolved by the people of
Nagorno-Karabakh through a referendum."

"Armenia holds the view that, on the whole, the principles offered
by the co-chairmen of the Minsk OSCE group from Russia, France and
the U.S. are a serious basis for the continuation of talks and we are
ready, on this basis, to have talks with Azerbaijan. Armenia also holds
the view that Azerbaijan’s indecision concerning these elements is
a serious obstacle in achieving progress in talks, and that if such
a policy was to continue Armenia will insist on Azerbaijan having
direct talks with Nagorno-Karabakh."

In addition, the Foreign Ministry stated, "No matter the size of
the military budget of Azerbaijan, it will never be able to make the
people of Nagorno-Karabakh give up their right to freedom and self-
determination."