Upper Garabagh status priority for Armenia in talks

Assa Irada, Azerbaijan
28 Oct. 2004

Determination of the Upper Garabagh status is a priority for Armenia
in the talks over the conflict settlement, the Armenian Foreign
Ministry press spokesman Gamlet Gasparian said in a statement. Armenia
considers all other issues exclusively in view of the future status
of Upper Garabagh.

"Other issues raised by Azerbaijan, including the problem on refugees,
displaced persons and territories, should be discussed directly with
Upper Garabagh. Armenia is interested only in the final resolution
of the Upper Garabagh problem and applies this approach to its
participation in the negotiations."

Commenting on the statement by the Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov that in Astana the Armenian President took a time-out
to analyze the results of the meetings held, Gasparian said the
decision to take a break in the talks was made jointly by the Azeri
and Armenian leaders.

"We have not received a reply yet on the issues Armenia is interested
in", Gasparian added.*