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BAKU: Garabagh Armenians May Join Talks On 'Conditions'

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  • BAKU: Garabagh Armenians May Join Talks On 'Conditions'

    GARABAGH ARMENIANS MAY JOIN TALKS ON 'CONDITIONS'

    AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
    April 6 2006

    Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said on Thursday that Azerbaijan
    may agree to the participation of Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh Armenians
    in peace talks, but warned this is possible only after they recognize
    themselves as Azerbaijani citizens and honor the country's laws.

    "Armenians living in Upper Garabagh must first recognize Azerbaijan's
    territorial integrity and admit that Baku is the Azerbaijani capital
    and they are ready to negotiate with us," he said, while commenting
    on some statements by Armenian and European diplomats on a possible
    involvement of the Armenian community in the negotiations.

    "Then they should state willingness to cooperate and live in accord
    with the country's Constitution," said Mammadyarov, elaborating on
    the conditions put forth by official Baku. The minister also said the
    Armenian community's participation in talks at this point runs counter
    to Yerevan's interests and Armenian officials' zealous statements
    to that end simply represent a "diplomatic move". "I believe Yerevan
    itself does not want the self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh republic to
    be involved in the negotiations now, as they are interested in holding
    talks on their own." Mammadyarov added that the talks are under way in
    the existing format, which suits Azerbaijan's interests. Meanwhile, the
    OSCE mediators brokering settlement to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
    still hope for a peaceful solution, despite the latest unsuccessful
    round of talks between Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharian
    in France in February, which was followed by belligerent statements
    by both sides. President Aliyev has said on several occasions after
    the talks that Azerbaijan would regain its territories no matter
    what it takes. The American co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Steven
    Mann said he still hopes for a conflict resolution this year, which
    was predicted earlier. "We will now analyze the situation and map
    out further steps. I can say with hope after the last meeting of the
    Azeri and Armenian presidents that we can find a way to resolve the
    conflict. 2006 is ideal for this."

    Mann said the next meeting of the mediators may be held in April. He
    also did not rule a meeting between the two countries' foreign
    ministers soon, but did not cite a specific timeframe. Political
    analyst Vafa Guluzada regarded Mann's statement as "not serious".

    "The conflict will be resolved only if the United States recognizes
    Armenia as aggressor and demands it to withdraw from the occupied Azeri
    land. We can't bind any hopes with talks," he said. Upper Garabagh,
    which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, has both
    Azerbaijani and ethnic Armenian population. It was occupied by Armenia
    in early 1990s, along with seven other Azerbaijani districts, after
    large-scale hostilities that killed up to 30,000 people and forced
    over a million Azeris out of their homes. The ceasefire accord was
    signed in 1994, but peace talks have been fruitless so far and refugees
    remain stranded.
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