Tweet
Chances high for progress in peace talks
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Aug 18 2005
A high-ranking Azeri official expects progress from the upcoming talks
on the settlement of the long-standing Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
over Upper Garabagh. The two countries' foreign ministers will meet in
Moscow on August 24 and the presidents in Kazan, Russia on August 26.
"Chances are high for positive results in the talks... But much depends
on the extent of Armenia's readiness for another step toward a peace
agreement", Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov said.
Azimov told journalists on Monday that liberation of Azerbaijan's
seven districts around Garabagh, the return of Azeri refugees
home, restoration of communications in the occupied districts and
determination of the status of Garabagh residents will be discussed
at the meetings.
"Freeing all occupied regions altogether is impossible. Liberation
of Upper Garabagh may be discussed only after the seven districts
around it are freed."
Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group mediating the conflict resolution
stated during their recent visits to the region that the conflicting
sides' positions have drawn closer due to mutual compromises.
Azimov seemingly confirmed that the Azerbaijani side has made
compromises. However, he chose not to mention the details, as
elaborating on the matter may impede peace talks.
Azeri and Armenian government sources said earlier that an agreement
envisioning 'package and stage-by-stage' conflict settlement was
deemed possible at the meeting of the two presidents.
The US OSCE MG co-chair Steven Mann earlier expressed optimism on
the prospects for signing a peace accord by the year-end.
Mann's deputy Elizabeth Ruth told Radio Liberty last week that
there are 'great hopes that conditions will emerge for reaching a
peace accord'. "We therefore consider the Kazan meeting of the two
presidents a real opportunity."
Ruth noted, however, that no final agreement should be expected at
this point, and peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia should
continue. "Peace will be achieved either now or in distant future -
everything depends on the decisiveness and the will of both sides."
A confidential source from the Azeri government said following the
visit by the mediators to the region in July that the sides reached
a final agreement on returning five occupied districts to Azerbaijan.
It also said that according to a plan agreed upon with Armenia, this
would be followed by signing of a peace agreement and subsequent
liberation of the other two districts occupied by Armenia.
An Armenian government source cited talks on holding a referendum in
Upper Garabagh in 10-15 years to determine its status. Both countries'
diplomats said that the sides are discussing opening communications,
return of Azeri refugees to their homes and stationing of OSCE
peacekeepers in the conflict zone.
Some analysts say that the course of talks shows that a settlement
remains a distant prospect. Despite the intensifying negotiations, the
Azeri and Armenian governments are restrained in taking 'compromising'
decisions and pushing for a peace accord among the public in their
countries, as a compromise would not suit the ambitions of the
sides. On the other hand, a peaceful conflict resolution does not
appear possible without major concessions.
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Aug 18 2005
A high-ranking Azeri official expects progress from the upcoming talks
on the settlement of the long-standing Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
over Upper Garabagh. The two countries' foreign ministers will meet in
Moscow on August 24 and the presidents in Kazan, Russia on August 26.
"Chances are high for positive results in the talks... But much depends
on the extent of Armenia's readiness for another step toward a peace
agreement", Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov said.
Azimov told journalists on Monday that liberation of Azerbaijan's
seven districts around Garabagh, the return of Azeri refugees
home, restoration of communications in the occupied districts and
determination of the status of Garabagh residents will be discussed
at the meetings.
"Freeing all occupied regions altogether is impossible. Liberation
of Upper Garabagh may be discussed only after the seven districts
around it are freed."
Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group mediating the conflict resolution
stated during their recent visits to the region that the conflicting
sides' positions have drawn closer due to mutual compromises.
Azimov seemingly confirmed that the Azerbaijani side has made
compromises. However, he chose not to mention the details, as
elaborating on the matter may impede peace talks.
Azeri and Armenian government sources said earlier that an agreement
envisioning 'package and stage-by-stage' conflict settlement was
deemed possible at the meeting of the two presidents.
The US OSCE MG co-chair Steven Mann earlier expressed optimism on
the prospects for signing a peace accord by the year-end.
Mann's deputy Elizabeth Ruth told Radio Liberty last week that
there are 'great hopes that conditions will emerge for reaching a
peace accord'. "We therefore consider the Kazan meeting of the two
presidents a real opportunity."
Ruth noted, however, that no final agreement should be expected at
this point, and peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia should
continue. "Peace will be achieved either now or in distant future -
everything depends on the decisiveness and the will of both sides."
A confidential source from the Azeri government said following the
visit by the mediators to the region in July that the sides reached
a final agreement on returning five occupied districts to Azerbaijan.
It also said that according to a plan agreed upon with Armenia, this
would be followed by signing of a peace agreement and subsequent
liberation of the other two districts occupied by Armenia.
An Armenian government source cited talks on holding a referendum in
Upper Garabagh in 10-15 years to determine its status. Both countries'
diplomats said that the sides are discussing opening communications,
return of Azeri refugees to their homes and stationing of OSCE
peacekeepers in the conflict zone.
Some analysts say that the course of talks shows that a settlement
remains a distant prospect. Despite the intensifying negotiations, the
Azeri and Armenian governments are restrained in taking 'compromising'
decisions and pushing for a peace accord among the public in their
countries, as a compromise would not suit the ambitions of the
sides. On the other hand, a peaceful conflict resolution does not
appear possible without major concessions.