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Novruz Mammadov: The Presidents met, but it is hard to say something on any progress

11 June 2007 15:09 (UTC +04:00)

- What are the results of the informal summit of CIS heads of states in St. Petersburg?
- The main aim of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevâ€™s visit to St. Petersburg was to attend the informal summit of the CIS and continue the negotiations on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The summit was normal, the Presidents touched upon current state and prospects of the CIS. The main summit will be held in autumn in Dushanbe. No document was signed as the summit was informal.
- How the meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents resulted?
- The two Presidents debated the settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani, Nagorno Karabakh conflict. It was a hard meeting, it lasted for some three hours. Foreign Ministers and co-chairs partly attended the meeting, as it was mainly between the Presidents. Some months ago both co-chairs and heads of different organizations expressed their positions, they were very optimistic about the meeting. Actually, it should be so, as Azerbaijanâ€™s successes in political, economic, cultural, military and others spheres strengthened its position in the region. International organizations and different states support Azerbaijan. Azerbaijanâ€™s integrity and position on the settlement of the conflict is supported. In these circumstances, Armenia had to assess this situation and prospects and take a step to ensure its normal development in the future. However, Armenians did not want to change their position probably at the influence of somebody or some circle. Armenia can not take constructive position regarding the items of Prague processâ€™s solution through stages and do not give up claims. So, while making an assessment, we can say that the meeting took place, the negotiations continued, but it is difficult to say something on a concrete progress.
- Do international organizations supporting Azerbaijanâ€™s position think of any mechanism of impact in order to invite Armenia to constructiveness?
- There is not such a mechanism in the international organizations such as Council of Europe, OSCE, Organization of the Islamic Conference, GUAM, BSECO, ECO. There is not decision of sanction character criticizing aggressive policy of Armenia yet. But the UN Security Council passed decision criticizing this policy. The UN Security Council is the only organization which can make decision regarding it, but its resolutions turn out ineffective. It has passed hundreds of decisions regarding the Middle East, tens on the Pakistan-India conflict, four on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, several on the Cyprus. However, these resolutions have not turned out effective. Our position is fair according to the international law, we support peaceful solution of the conflict. We do not want war.
- Will the negotiations on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict continue?
- The negotiations should continue undoubtedly. Both co-chairs and Foreign Ministers will carry out these negotiations, but the exact date of the next meeting has not yet been specified.
- Did the Presidents debate on the meeting of national football teams of Azerbaijan and Armenia? OSCE chairman proposed the teams met in Spainâ€¦
- No. Related bodies should give proposals on it, if necessary the Presidents will comment on it.
- Was there any decision in the CIS informal summit regarding the executive secretary of the organization Vladimir Rushailo, whose tenure is expiring?
- There is such issue at the agenda, but there is not any decision. /APA/