Presidential talks on Garabagh set for Thursday: mediators
Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents Ilham Aliyev and
Serzh Sarkisian will meet in Chisinau, Moldova on Thursday for
talks on the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict, the OSCE mediators
said after negotiating the upcoming meeting.
Yuri Merzlyakov, the Russian co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group brokering the peace process, made the announcement at a news briefing in Baku on Tuesday finalizing the co-chairs` visit to the region.
In a joint statement, the intermediaries said both leaders had accepted their proposal to meet. ``The meeting will take place in the evening on October 8, ahead of a summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).``
The statement also said the Chisinau meeting will be a continuation of the presidential talks held in Moscow in mid-July.
According to Merzlyakov, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev praised the outcomes of the talks held in Russia during his discussions with the co-chairs on Monday and voiced hope the meeting in Moldova will further the positive dynamics in peace talks.
Robert Bradtke, the US co-chair, said certain advances have been achieved so far in the conflict settlement, adding he believes the Chisinau talks will foster further progress.
Bernard Fassier, the French mediator, said he was very content with the meeting held with the Azerbaijani community of Upper Garabagh and its stance.
Prior to their news briefing, the MG co-chairs met with the leader of the community, Bayram Safarov. Safarov said Garabagh`s Azerbaijanis were ready to live alongside Armenian residents of the region in the conditions of good neighborliness.
Further, the intermediaries held talks with the Azerbaijani President`s Upper Garabagh negotiator, Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov.
The MG co-chairs started their visit to the region last Thursday from Yerevan. They further visited Upper Garabagh, prior to arriving in Baku.
In a joint statement issued before starting their visit, the mediators reiterated the points made separately by each of their governments, saying ``the Minsk Group negotiations are a separate process that should move forward along its own rationale, without preconditions, without any linkages, within a reasonable timeframe, and without imposed acceleration or delay.``
The Garabagh conflict flared up in the late 1980s due to Armenia`s territorial claims. Armenia has been occupying over 20 percent of Azerbaijan`s internationally-recognized territory since the early 1990s in defiance of international law. The ceasefire accord was signed in 1994, but efforts by mediators have been largely fruitless so far.
Yuri Merzlyakov, the Russian co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group brokering the peace process, made the announcement at a news briefing in Baku on Tuesday finalizing the co-chairs` visit to the region.
In a joint statement, the intermediaries said both leaders had accepted their proposal to meet. ``The meeting will take place in the evening on October 8, ahead of a summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).``
The statement also said the Chisinau meeting will be a continuation of the presidential talks held in Moscow in mid-July.
According to Merzlyakov, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev praised the outcomes of the talks held in Russia during his discussions with the co-chairs on Monday and voiced hope the meeting in Moldova will further the positive dynamics in peace talks.
Robert Bradtke, the US co-chair, said certain advances have been achieved so far in the conflict settlement, adding he believes the Chisinau talks will foster further progress.
Bernard Fassier, the French mediator, said he was very content with the meeting held with the Azerbaijani community of Upper Garabagh and its stance.
Prior to their news briefing, the MG co-chairs met with the leader of the community, Bayram Safarov. Safarov said Garabagh`s Azerbaijanis were ready to live alongside Armenian residents of the region in the conditions of good neighborliness.
Further, the intermediaries held talks with the Azerbaijani President`s Upper Garabagh negotiator, Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov.
The MG co-chairs started their visit to the region last Thursday from Yerevan. They further visited Upper Garabagh, prior to arriving in Baku.
In a joint statement issued before starting their visit, the mediators reiterated the points made separately by each of their governments, saying ``the Minsk Group negotiations are a separate process that should move forward along its own rationale, without preconditions, without any linkages, within a reasonable timeframe, and without imposed acceleration or delay.``
The Garabagh conflict flared up in the late 1980s due to Armenia`s territorial claims. Armenia has been occupying over 20 percent of Azerbaijan`s internationally-recognized territory since the early 1990s in defiance of international law. The ceasefire accord was signed in 1994, but efforts by mediators have been largely fruitless so far.
Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention.
Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis.
By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more.
Subscribe
You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper
Thank you!