Armenia-Azerbaijan Negotiations
Agence France Presse
May 7 2009
Armenian, Azeri heads make progress on Karabakh: mediator
PRAGUE, May 7 2009
The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan made "important and significant
progress" in talks on the disputed Nagorny Karabakh region on
Thursday, international mediators said.
Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian and his Azeri counterpart Ilham
Aliyev met for talks ahead of the European Union's Eastern Partnership
summit in Prague, under supervision from the Minsk Group of
international mediators.
"There is an important and significant progress, some parts of the
negotiations were basically agreed on," Matthew Bryza, US deputy
assistant secretary of state and co-chairman of the group, told
reporters.
"They had a constructive discussion, they were able in finding basic
principles to reduce their differences (...) they generally agreed on
the basic ideas that they came here to discuss today," he added.
Bernard Fassier, the group's French co-chairman, said the negotiators
had to "finalise the details" with foreign ministers ahead of the next
meeting.
That is expected to take place on the fringes of a business forum in
St Petersburg in early June.
"We have a huge work ahead in the coming days and weeks," he added.
Backed by Armenia, ethnic Armenian separatists seized control of
Nagorny Karabakh in the early 1990s in a war that killed nearly 30,000
people and forced two million to flee their homes.
A ceasefire was signed between the two former Soviet republics in 1994
but the dispute remains unresolved.
France, Russia and the United States are co-chairs of the Minsk Group,
which is seeking to resolve the conflict.
Armenia, Azerbaijan discuss disputed region
Associated Press Worldstream
May 7, 2009 Thursday 10:35 AM GMT
The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan met in the Czech capital
Thursday to seek solutions to a two-decade territorial conflict between
their countries, officials said.
Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave inside Azerbaijan, has been under the
control of ethnic Armenian forces since a six-year conflict that killed
about 30,000 and displaced 1 million people before a truce was reached
in 1994.
Turkey closed the border in 1993 in support of Azerbaijan during its
conflict with Armenia over the region. Turkey backs Azerbaijan's claims
to Nagorno-Karabakh, which has a high number of ethnic Armenian
residents but is located within Azerbaijan's borders.
Presidents Serge Sarkisian of Armenia and Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan
met at the residence of the U.S. ambassador as Washington and other
governments push for a solution.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton recently encouraged
Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve the dispute when she held separate
meetings with them in Washington.
The U.S. Embassy said in a statement the two presidents discussed the
issue as part of international mediation efforts led by the United
States, Russia and France.
Both presidents were in Prague to attend a summit Thursday at which the
European Union planned to offer aid and trade accords to six ex-Soviet
republics to ease Moscow's hold over them.
Associated Press Worldstream
May 7, 2009 Thursday 10:35 AM GMT
The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan met in the Czech capital
Thursday to seek solutions to a two-decade territorial conflict between
their countries, officials said.
Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave inside Azerbaijan, has been under the
control of ethnic Armenian forces since a six-year conflict that killed
about 30,000 and displaced 1 million people before a truce was reached
in 1994.
Turkey closed the border in 1993 in support of Azerbaijan during its
conflict with Armenia over the region. Turkey backs Azerbaijan's claims
to Nagorno-Karabakh, which has a high number of ethnic Armenian
residents but is located within Azerbaijan's borders.
Presidents Serge Sarkisian of Armenia and Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan
met at the residence of the U.S. ambassador as Washington and other
governments push for a solution.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton recently encouraged
Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve the dispute when she held separate
meetings with them in Washington.
The U.S. Embassy said in a statement the two presidents discussed the
issue as part of international mediation efforts led by the United
States, Russia and France.
Both presidents were in Prague to attend a summit Thursday at which the
European Union planned to offer aid and trade accords to six ex-Soviet
republics to ease Moscow's hold over them.
Mediamax, Armenia
May 7 2009
US mediator reports "considerable progress" after Armenian, Azeri
leaders meet
Yerevan, 7 May: The US co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew
Bryza announced today in Prague an "important" and "essential"
progress in the negotiations process when summing up the meeting of
the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
As Mediamax correspondent reports from Prague, the mediators met
journalists following a meeting between the presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan which took place at the residence of the US ambassador and
lasted two and a half hours.
"Presidents Aliyev and Sargsyan had constructive talks. They have
managed to narrow down the number of disagreements on basic principles
of settlement [of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict] and to reach general
agreement on basic ideas proposed by the mediators with regards to
these principles." Matthew Bryza said.
The US diplomat said that the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
instructed the ministers of foreign affairs of their countries to
continue talks with the mediators in the coming weeks and "to finalize
the key concepts in the framework of basic principles". According to
Matthew Bryza, the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan "have for the
first time agreed on the basic principles around these principles" and
this allows to state the existence of "serious and considerable
progress" in the peace process.
Russian mediator Yuriy Merzlyakov said that "there is a principal
agreement to hold the next meeting of the presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan in St Petersburg in the beginning of June." He said that in
order to get prepared for the meeting, the co-chairmen of the OSCE
Minsk Group will visit the region while French co-chairman Bernard
Fassier said that mediators have "lots of work" to do to prepare the
meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders.
Answering a question about the possible influence of Baku's negative
attitude towards the attempts to normalize Armenian-Turkish relations
on the peace process, Matthew Bryza said that "these two processes
develop in parallel and at different speeds".
"Progress in one of the processes may encourage progress in
another. However, we are dealing with two different processes", the
American mediator said.
May 7 2009
US mediator reports "considerable progress" after Armenian, Azeri
leaders meet
Yerevan, 7 May: The US co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew
Bryza announced today in Prague an "important" and "essential"
progress in the negotiations process when summing up the meeting of
the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
As Mediamax correspondent reports from Prague, the mediators met
journalists following a meeting between the presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan which took place at the residence of the US ambassador and
lasted two and a half hours.
"Presidents Aliyev and Sargsyan had constructive talks. They have
managed to narrow down the number of disagreements on basic principles
of settlement [of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict] and to reach general
agreement on basic ideas proposed by the mediators with regards to
these principles." Matthew Bryza said.
The US diplomat said that the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
instructed the ministers of foreign affairs of their countries to
continue talks with the mediators in the coming weeks and "to finalize
the key concepts in the framework of basic principles". According to
Matthew Bryza, the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan "have for the
first time agreed on the basic principles around these principles" and
this allows to state the existence of "serious and considerable
progress" in the peace process.
Russian mediator Yuriy Merzlyakov said that "there is a principal
agreement to hold the next meeting of the presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan in St Petersburg in the beginning of June." He said that in
order to get prepared for the meeting, the co-chairmen of the OSCE
Minsk Group will visit the region while French co-chairman Bernard
Fassier said that mediators have "lots of work" to do to prepare the
meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders.
Answering a question about the possible influence of Baku's negative
attitude towards the attempts to normalize Armenian-Turkish relations
on the peace process, Matthew Bryza said that "these two processes
develop in parallel and at different speeds".
"Progress in one of the processes may encourage progress in
another. However, we are dealing with two different processes", the
American mediator said.
ITAR-TASS , Russia
May 9 2009
No progress in Karabakh settlement - Mamedyarov
09.05.2009, 20.33
BAKU, May 9 (Itar-Tass) - Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar
Mamedyarov said there is no progress in the settlement of the Karabakh
conflict.
The minister commented on the results of the Prague meeting between
Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents, Ilkham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan.
`I can't say any progress was achieved in Prague,' Mamedyarov said.
At the same time, he said the talks on the Karabakh settlement should
continue.
He confirmed that the next meeting was due to be held in
St. Petersburg in early June within the Economic Summit. In his words,
co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group should visit the region. If it
necessary the foreign ministers of the two countries will meet, he
said.
`All will be clear after the mediators' visit,' Mamedyarov said.
May 9 2009
No progress in Karabakh settlement - Mamedyarov
09.05.2009, 20.33
BAKU, May 9 (Itar-Tass) - Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar
Mamedyarov said there is no progress in the settlement of the Karabakh
conflict.
The minister commented on the results of the Prague meeting between
Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents, Ilkham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan.
`I can't say any progress was achieved in Prague,' Mamedyarov said.
At the same time, he said the talks on the Karabakh settlement should
continue.
He confirmed that the next meeting was due to be held in
St. Petersburg in early June within the Economic Summit. In his words,
co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group should visit the region. If it
necessary the foreign ministers of the two countries will meet, he
said.
`All will be clear after the mediators' visit,' Mamedyarov said.
Interfax, Russia
May 6 2009
No link between settlement of relations with Turkey and Karabakh
conflict - Armenian official
YEREVAN May 6
There is no link between measures to sort out relations between
Armenia and Turkey and the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, Armenian presidential press secretary Samvel Farmanyan told
the local Mediamax news agency.
"We have repeatedly stated that the problem of Karabakh conflict
settlement efforts has not been addressed as part of the
Armenian-Turkish negotiating process at any level," Farmanyan said on
Wednesday.
The president's press secretary also ruled out a possible trilateral
meeting of the presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey in Prague.
"A trilateral meeting of the presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Turkey has not been arranged. Naturally, it will not take place.
Moreover, such a possibility is ruled out," he said, referring to
certain foreign media reports.
May 6 2009
No link between settlement of relations with Turkey and Karabakh
conflict - Armenian official
YEREVAN May 6
There is no link between measures to sort out relations between
Armenia and Turkey and the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, Armenian presidential press secretary Samvel Farmanyan told
the local Mediamax news agency.
"We have repeatedly stated that the problem of Karabakh conflict
settlement efforts has not been addressed as part of the
Armenian-Turkish negotiating process at any level," Farmanyan said on
Wednesday.
The president's press secretary also ruled out a possible trilateral
meeting of the presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey in Prague.
"A trilateral meeting of the presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Turkey has not been arranged. Naturally, it will not take place.
Moreover, such a possibility is ruled out," he said, referring to
certain foreign media reports.
Interfax, Russia
May 5 2009
Open border with Armenia depends on advance of Karabakh talks -
Turkish diplomat
BAKU May 5
Turkey is not going to open the border with Armenia until the
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement talks between Baku and Yerevan progress,
Turkish Ambassador in Azerbaijan Hulusi Kilic said.
"There are no gaps in Azeri-Turkish relations. As [Turkish Prime
Minister] Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier said, the Turkish-Armenian
borders will not be opened until the Karabakh settlement progresses,"
Kilic said.
Erdogan's upcoming visit to Azerbaijan will focus on topics of mutual
concern, "because brothers discuss all issues, including the
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement," the ambassador said.
"This will be a very important visit," he noted.
Reports that talks on Azerbaijan's increasing gas price for Turkey
will take place during the visit have nothing to do with reality,
Kilic said.
Erdogan is expected to arrive in Baku on May 13, Turkish media
reported earlier.
State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
May 7, 2009 Thursday
PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV MEETS BRITISH SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN
AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Prague May 7
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has met British Secretary of State
for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs David Miliband.
Mr. Miliband pointed out the cooperation between the two countries
develops in various fields, particularly in political and economic
ones.
He invited on behalf of the British Prime Minister - the Azerbaijani
leader to pay a visit to the country.
President Ilham Aliyev accepted the invitation.
The Azerbaijani leader and British Secretary of State discussed the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, regional and
international developments and energy matters.
May 7, 2009 Thursday
PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV MEETS BRITISH SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN
AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Prague May 7
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has met British Secretary of State
for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs David Miliband.
Mr. Miliband pointed out the cooperation between the two countries
develops in various fields, particularly in political and economic
ones.
He invited on behalf of the British Prime Minister - the Azerbaijani
leader to pay a visit to the country.
President Ilham Aliyev accepted the invitation.
The Azerbaijani leader and British Secretary of State discussed the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, regional and
international developments and energy matters.
DIPLOMAT MAGAZINE PUBLISHES ARTICLE BY AZERI AMBASSADOR TO UK
Baku 7 May
An article entitled The History Of Democracy by Azerbaijan`s
ambassador to the United Kingdom Fakhraddin Gurbanov has been
published in the London-based Diplomat magazine.
The article says the first democratic republic in the Muslim world was
established in Azerbaijan.
It also features problems which Azerbaijan faced after it regained
independence.
The article says after national leader Heydar Aliyev came to power, a
process of sustainable development started in Azerbaijan.
According to the article, the role of Azerbaijan has increased in
ensuring energy supply for Europe.
Thanks to the Azerbaijani leadership`s well-balanced foreign policy,
the country`s relations with both Western and Eastern countries expand
day-by-day. Azerbaijan is a member of several international
organizations and actively participates in their work, according to
the article.
It also goes on to say that Azerbaijan is one of the world`s fastest
growing economies.
The article also touches upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh, saying the dispute can be settled on the basis of
Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity.
ANS TV, Azerbaijan
May 6 2009
Armenian drill in Karabakh
According to reports from ANS's Karabakh bureau, the Armenian armed
forces have started a military exercise in the occupied areas of
[Azerbaijan's] Agdam District. Heavy artillery, armoured hardware and
troops are taking part in the exercise. Sounds of shooting from
artillery and tanks can be heard right now in front-line villages in
Agdam District. Clouds of dust caused by these blasts can be observed
in areas close to the front line.
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