Aliyev-Sarkisian talks `constructive`
Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents Ilham Aliyev and
Serzh Sarkisian held a meeting in Chisinau, Moldova on Thursday to
discuss the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict, which was described
by international mediators as constructive.
``The sides succeeded in bringing their positions closer,`` said Yuri Merzlyakov, the Russian co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group (MG) brokering the peace process.
Merzlyakov said the two leaders had expressed their willingness to meet again. ``The presidents instructed their foreign ministries to prepare the next meeting, the timing and venue of which you will know soon.``
According to Merzlyakov, the heads of state discussed issues that no mutual understanding had been reached upon, but he did not elaborate.
Robert Bradtke, the newly-appointed US co-chair who met with the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents for the first time, said the two leaders had requested inclusion of their recommendations in the Madrid Document, a peace outline brought forward by the co-chairs in November 2007.
``The main principles of the document are outlined in the provisions on non-use of force, the right to self-determination and territorial integrity. The presidents agree with this,`` Bradtke said.
The Aliyev-Sarkisian meeting took longer than expected. The discussions were expected to last two hours, to be followed by the co-chairs` statement for the press at 10 p.m. Baku time. However, the meeting took about three and a half hours.
In a statement issued on Friday, the co-chairs said Thursday`s meeting between the two leaders, held at the residence of the U.S. ambassador, was the fifth meeting between the two presidents in the last ten months and confirmed the positive dynamic of their negotiations.
``The meeting further promoted elaboration of the Basic Principles for the peaceful settlement of the Upper Garabagh conflict. The talks were constructive and serious, including an in-depth, line-by-line discussion of a number of points of the co-chairs` proposals,`` the statement said.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev met his Azeri and Armenian counterparts during a summit on Friday of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a group of most former Soviet republics.
``Solving Garabagh is a key issue. Advances are being made step by step and with every meeting the positions move closer,`` Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters when asked about Medvedev`s meeting with the two leaders.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. Peace talks have not yet resulted in resolving the conflict.
``The sides succeeded in bringing their positions closer,`` said Yuri Merzlyakov, the Russian co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group (MG) brokering the peace process.
Merzlyakov said the two leaders had expressed their willingness to meet again. ``The presidents instructed their foreign ministries to prepare the next meeting, the timing and venue of which you will know soon.``
According to Merzlyakov, the heads of state discussed issues that no mutual understanding had been reached upon, but he did not elaborate.
Robert Bradtke, the newly-appointed US co-chair who met with the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents for the first time, said the two leaders had requested inclusion of their recommendations in the Madrid Document, a peace outline brought forward by the co-chairs in November 2007.
``The main principles of the document are outlined in the provisions on non-use of force, the right to self-determination and territorial integrity. The presidents agree with this,`` Bradtke said.
The Aliyev-Sarkisian meeting took longer than expected. The discussions were expected to last two hours, to be followed by the co-chairs` statement for the press at 10 p.m. Baku time. However, the meeting took about three and a half hours.
In a statement issued on Friday, the co-chairs said Thursday`s meeting between the two leaders, held at the residence of the U.S. ambassador, was the fifth meeting between the two presidents in the last ten months and confirmed the positive dynamic of their negotiations.
``The meeting further promoted elaboration of the Basic Principles for the peaceful settlement of the Upper Garabagh conflict. The talks were constructive and serious, including an in-depth, line-by-line discussion of a number of points of the co-chairs` proposals,`` the statement said.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev met his Azeri and Armenian counterparts during a summit on Friday of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a group of most former Soviet republics.
``Solving Garabagh is a key issue. Advances are being made step by step and with every meeting the positions move closer,`` Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters when asked about Medvedev`s meeting with the two leaders.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. Peace talks have not yet resulted in resolving the conflict.
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