Tweet
Associated Press Worldstream
October 26, 2007 Friday 9:31 AM GMT
US mediator: Azerbaijan, Armenia could sign framework agreement on
Nagorno-Karabakh
Azerbaijan and Armenia could sign a framework agreement next year
resolving the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh territory, a co-chairman of
the group mediating the conflict said Friday.
"There is a possibility that prior to presidential elections in
Armenia, which will take place in the spring of next year, some kind
of framework agreement on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict could be
signed by the heads of Azerbaijan and Armenia," said Matthew J.
Bryza, deputy assistant U.S. secretary of state and co-chairman of
the so-called Minsk Group set up to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh
problem.
Bryza said Armenian President Robert Kocharian had told the Minsk
Group chairmen during their meeting Thursday in Yerevan that signing
such a "gentlemanly agreement" prior to the country's presidential
ballot was possible.
"I asked the president myself this question, and in reply he said
that such a possibility exists," Bryza told journalists.
"But, of course, this will not be the end of the negotiation
process," the diplomat stressed, adding that he hoped a new Armenian
president would uphold any such agreement.
The Minsk Group diplomats, including representatives from Russia and
France, are in the two Caucuses countries as part the negotiation
process. After meeting with officials in Baku they planned to return
to Armenia and then back again to Azerbaijan, French mediator Bernard
Fassier said.
The mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh territory is part of Azerbaijan, but
has been controlled along with some surrounding areas by local and
Armenian forces since 1994, when a cease-fire ended a six-year
separatist war. Some 30,000 people were killed, and about 1 million
driven from their homes in the conflict.
Ethnic Armenians now account for virtually the entire population of
the territory. Nagorno-Karabakh held presidential elections in July,
which Azerbaijan has rejected as illegitimate.
October 26, 2007 Friday 9:31 AM GMT
US mediator: Azerbaijan, Armenia could sign framework agreement on
Nagorno-Karabakh
Azerbaijan and Armenia could sign a framework agreement next year
resolving the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh territory, a co-chairman of
the group mediating the conflict said Friday.
"There is a possibility that prior to presidential elections in
Armenia, which will take place in the spring of next year, some kind
of framework agreement on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict could be
signed by the heads of Azerbaijan and Armenia," said Matthew J.
Bryza, deputy assistant U.S. secretary of state and co-chairman of
the so-called Minsk Group set up to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh
problem.
Bryza said Armenian President Robert Kocharian had told the Minsk
Group chairmen during their meeting Thursday in Yerevan that signing
such a "gentlemanly agreement" prior to the country's presidential
ballot was possible.
"I asked the president myself this question, and in reply he said
that such a possibility exists," Bryza told journalists.
"But, of course, this will not be the end of the negotiation
process," the diplomat stressed, adding that he hoped a new Armenian
president would uphold any such agreement.
The Minsk Group diplomats, including representatives from Russia and
France, are in the two Caucuses countries as part the negotiation
process. After meeting with officials in Baku they planned to return
to Armenia and then back again to Azerbaijan, French mediator Bernard
Fassier said.
The mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh territory is part of Azerbaijan, but
has been controlled along with some surrounding areas by local and
Armenian forces since 1994, when a cease-fire ended a six-year
separatist war. Some 30,000 people were killed, and about 1 million
driven from their homes in the conflict.
Ethnic Armenians now account for virtually the entire population of
the territory. Nagorno-Karabakh held presidential elections in July,
which Azerbaijan has rejected as illegitimate.