Us To Intensify Efforts In Karabakh Settlement

[MosJan]

RICE DISCUSSED KARABAKH ISSUE WITH ARMENIAN AND AZERI PRESIDENTS BY PHONE

 

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The US hopes for progress in settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, says a statement made public after talks between US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice with Azeri FM Elmar Mammadyarov. Before thee meeting with her Azeri counterpart Rice discussed the subject with Armenian and Azeri Presidents by phone, reports Golos Rossii. Yesterday Condoleezza Rice met with Elmar Mammadyarov in Washington. During the meeting the parties discussed the issue of settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict

[MosJan]

US TO INTENSIFY EFFORTS IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

 

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United States are in support of the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and will intensify its efforts in that direction, the US State Secretary, Condoleezza Rice stated at her meeting with the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Washington. Rice expressed her support towards the democratization policy in Azerbaijan and suggested that the strategic development dialogue should be continued during the visit of the Azerbaijani president to Washington. Mammadyarov in his turn thanked for consistent policy on “recognition of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan” and support in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict resolution. After the talks with Washington officials, Mammadyarov stated they wish to enhance US-Azeri relations, which meets Azerbaijan’s national interests. “The US supports the far-sighted strategic policy of President Ilham Aliyev regarding the country and the region. The US is grateful to Azerbaijan for efforts within the anti-terror coalition. They view us as a regional leader,” Mammadyarov underscored.

[MosJan]

IRANIAN AND KARABAKH ISSUES DRAW AZERI PRESIDENT TO WASHINGTON

 

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Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received an official invitation to visit Washington in late April, RFE/RL reports. Details of this meeting will perhaps be discussed at the meeting between Azeri foreign minister Elmar Mamediarov and US state secretary Condoleezza Rice today. Though the Azeri side has not yet confirmed this information, many experts consider the visit of the Azeri president possible based on the planning assault on Iraq and topicality of Karabakh issue. Despite the assumptions of Azeri political scientists that their president will not take part in possible attack on Iran, Washington will try to draw Azerbaijan into its alliance.

 

The Azeri printed media lively discusses this issue, presuming that Washington looks down on Aliyev as an illegitimate leader. Nevertheless, once this visit takes place it will make the headlines in the context of anti-Iranian campaign and Nagorno Karabakh issue.

 

As to the Karabakh issue, the United States is striving to see a breakthrough in the dispute, and the Azeri president’s visit can be viewed as a concrete step in this direction. Following this logic, we can expect that President Robert Kocharian will also be invited to the US capital shortly after.

* By Aghavni Harutyunian

[MosJan]

US PRESENTS NEW PROPOSALS ON CONTINUING PRAGUE PROCESS ON KARABAKH

 

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The US has presented new proposals on continuing the Prague Process on settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Azeri FM Elmar Mammadyarov stated when commenting talks with US Administration officials in Washington. In his words, “the proposals are interesting.” Official Baku will analyze these and will present its attitude during the visit of OSCE Minsk Group American Ambassador Steven Mann’s regional visit scheduled on April 18, reports Trend.

[MosJan]

ALIYEV TALKS OF NEW FORMAT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH REGULATION

 

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Recently, the supposition that the United States suggested new principles for the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement to Azerbaijan seems to be one of the greatest expectations of various high-ranking Azerbaijani officials. Though Reno Harnish, US Ambassador to Azerbaijan, stated that the officials of his country made no new suggestions in the course of the Washington visit of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan continues speculating on these ideas. Particularly, yesterday, according to Trend agency, Ilham Aliyev said that the process of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement "is being carried out in a new format that keeps in line with the national interests of Azerbaijan." He added that the new format creates good grounds for restoration of territorial wholeness of Azerbaijan.

 

One wonders what he means by speaking of a new format when the representatives of the mediators and other international organizations still consider that the OSCE Minsk group is the best format for the negotiations. If Aliyev means the aspect of Armenia and Azerbaijan, the only expected change is the participation of Nagorno Karabakh in the negotiations. Yet, this factor is hardly in the interest of Azerbaijan.

 

It may seem quite queer but Aliyev kept from making militant statements in front of his own people. He just stated that the Azeri authorities are unwilling to unfold military actions.

 

It’s worth mentioning that Rene van der Linden, chairman of PACE, said two days ago that they will expel the country that will resume military actions in Nagorno Karabakh from the European Parliament. In fact, Aliyev was quite impressed by the warning of Mr. Rene van der Linden.

[MosJan]

AZERI PUBLIC DEMANDS INFORMATION ON KARABAKH TALKS CONTENTS

 

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The coordinating center of the Azeri opposition is going to hold a rally in Baku May 6. “The process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement should be put for discussion of the political circles and parliamentarians. This will be the burden of the action,” chairman of Umid (Hope) party, MP Igbal Aghazade told Interfax-Azerbaijan. In his words, the OSCE Minsk Group and other international structures say that the year of 2006 is the most appropriate for the conflict settlement however the Azeri society does not possess sufficient information on the negotiations yet. “The information may be published incompletely but the government should hold consultations with the political circles and parliamentarians. This is the problem of the state and the opposition should elaborate a unified position on the issue,” Aghazade said, reported Interfax-Azerbaijan.