Preconditions Lead To Impasse

[Siamanto]

PRECONDITIONS LEAD TO IMPASSE

 

Azg/Arm

2 Nov 04

 

Foreign minister of Nagorno Artsax Republic Ashot Ghulian called a

press conference yesterday to tell about his US visit. He noted that

he left for America on invitation of the Michigan University and said

that he had meetings with social-political figures in other US cities

as well. Ghulian met with the OSCE Minsk group co-chair Steven Mann,

representatives of the US Congressional staff, members of the

America's Armenian Congress, with the Armenian representative to UN

and others. All meetings were useful and mutually beneficial.

 

Speaking of his speech at the Michigan University, minister said that

he gave a survey of the Artsax conflict history, causes and process.

 

Ashot Ghulian had a meeting with Luiz Simon Manukian at the AGBU

center. He emphasized that the establishment has a great potential for

cooperation and thanked for contribution so far. The Diaspora is very

interested in the modern state of Artsakh and in the perspectives of

conflict settlement.

 

Commenting on Azerbaijan's deputy foreign minister Araz Azimov�=80=99s

refusal to take part in the conference, the minister said that

Azerbaijan's step was an attempt to prevent the conference. There were

9 issues included in the conference agenda and only one of them

concerned Artsax. Ghulian said that Azerbaijan strives for

undermining all promising projects instead of supporting the

international community to get the true perception.

 

Presenting Steven Mann's views on Artsax conflict, Ghulian said that

the latter thinks that the social dialogue between the sides is

necessary in order to uproot the hostility in societies.

 

Ashot Ghulian said that Turkey's possible involvement in the talks was

also discussed and noted that a representative of a non-official

Iranian organization said that Iran as well may have its say in the

talks as it is also an interested side, particularly in this case when

Turkey's stance does not differ from Azerbaijan's.

 

By Kim Gabrielian from Stepanakert

 

 

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg96287.html