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Edited on 27.01.2000
ARMENIAN, AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENTS TO
RESUME KARABAKH TALKS.
Armenian President Robert Kocharian told journalists on 26
January upon his return to Yerevan from the CIS summit in
Moscow that he and his Azerbaijani counterpart Heidar Aliev
will continue their talks on the Karabakh conflict on the
sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland,
Russian agencies reported. Kocharian added that both he and
Aliev agree on the need to reverse the slowdown in the peace
process since the 27 October Armenian parliament shootings.
Kocharian refrained from making any prognosis as to the
likely outcome of the planned Davos talks. But Armenian
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said on 26 January in
Strasbourg, where he is attending the Parliamentary Asssembly
of the Council of Europe session, that those talks will show
in which direction the peace process is heading, according to
ITAR-TASS. Also on 26 January, Kocharian briefed Arkadii
Ghukasian, president of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic, on his talks with Aliev in Moscow on 24 January,
RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported.
RFE/RL
Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2000 10:08:50 -0800 (PST)
Armenian And Azerbaijani Leaders To Discuss Karabakh
STRASBOURG, Jan 27, 2000 -- (Agence France Presse) The
Armenian president will meet his Azerbaijani opposite number
to discuss a possible compromise solution to their
countries' territorial dispute, the Armenian foreign
minister told AFP Wednesday.
Robert Kocharyan and Heydar Aliyev will meet Friday in
Davos, Switzerland, for "substantial discussions" on the
future of the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanyan said.
The minister said the pair had met on Monday in Moscow and
that acting President Vladimir Putin of Russia had promised
to support any compromise solution reached by the two
leaders.
Copyright 2000 Agence France Presse
Kocharian Praises CIS Moscow Summit
MOSCOW, YEREVAN (Itar-Tass, Noyan Tapan)-President Robert
Kocharian on Wednesday highly praised the results of
Tuesday's summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States in
Moscow.
Speaking about his meeting with Azeri President Haydar
Aliyev, Kocharian said that both leaders "have understanding
that the negotiating process should be resumed, and the
presidents should take serious decisions."
"We will continue the dialogue with Haydar Aliyev in Davos,
this meeting will be held in two or three days, we will try
to reinvigorate this process," he said.
"I do not want to forecast the results" of the meeting, he
added.
Kocharian will leave for Davos on January 27 to participate
in the annual World Economic Forum. The Armenian delegation
will include Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian, Minister of
Industry and Trade Karen Chshmaritian, President's Senior
Economic Advisor Vahram Nersissiants, Deputy Minister of
Energy Karen Galustian, and other officials.
During his visit to Davos, the Armenian president is
scheduled to hold meetings with leaders of different
countries and heads of international economic organizations,
including the presidents of Azerbaijan, Argentina and
Slovakia, the UN Secretary General, and the President of the
World Bank. Kocharian will also hold meetings with
representatives of the business community.
Kocharian, Ghoukassian Discuss Moscow Talks
(formulations reflect Armenian official policy)
YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)-Armenian President Robert Kocharian and
President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Arkady Ghoukassian
held a meeting January 25 to discuss the current state of the
Karabakh settlement and possible development of the
settlement process. The two also discussed the recent CIS
summit in Moscow.
Kocharian presented to Ghoukassian a detailed information on
the Moscow negotiations and, in particular, on the his
meeting with Azeri President Heydar Aliyev attended by
Russia's Acting President Vladimir Putin.
The sides also discussed the current political situation in
Nagorno Karabakh and emphasized the importance of the
development of civil society in the country, and the
implementation of economic and democratic reforms.
Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2000 10:06:17 -0800 (PST)
Armenian Group Vows To Keep Fighting
For Territory In Turkey
YEREVAN, Jan 26, 2000 -- (Agence France Presse) The Armenian
Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) marked its
25th anniversary here Tuesday by promising it will keep
fighting to recover Armenian territory in Turkey.
"Our goal is to liberate western Armenian territories in
Turkey. We intend to keep up a strong fight for our lands,"
said an ASALA statement released in Yerevan.
"We are not going to accept as fact that we have lost our
land for good," the statement added.
The Marxist-Leninist group was formed in 1975 with the
stated aim of forcing Ankara to acknowledge responsibility
for the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915, according
to a US State Department publication.
It also sought from the start to force Turkey to pay
reparations and cede territory for an Armenian homeland, the
publication said.
But the group said Tuesday that it was "naive" to expect
that Turkey will recognize the deaths in 1915 as a genocide.
"Acknowledgment of genocide is a political question, and
this kind of question is resolved according to the balance
of power," the statement said.
"Turkey is much stronger now than in the 70s and 80s," it
admitted.
Armenia estimates that up to 1.3 million people were killed
in 1915, while Turkey says the figure was around 300,000,
and bristles when the word genocide is used.
ASALA has conducted an armed campaign mainly against Turkish
targets, including the 1983 bombing of a Turkish airline
counter at Orly airport near Paris that killed eight people
and wounded 55.
Copyright 2000 Agence France Presse
Issue on Armenia's arming by Russia to be again raised by Heydar Aliyev as soon as new President in Russia is elected
Baku. 26.01.2000. /AzadInform/. Yesterday the President of Azerbaijan Heydar
Aliyev returned back to home from the Moscow summit of heads of CIS countries.
At the briefing held for journalists in the Bina Airport the head of state
imparted about his face-to-face meeting with the Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan. V. Putin joined this meeting too. We decided to continue this
dialogue. So, it is very possible, that I will meet with the Armenian President
R. Kocharyan in Davos too, Heydar Aliyev said. The head of state also added,
that Putin declared his readiness to support any decision to be reached between
Azerbaijan and Armenian.
The parties didn't negotiate on activity of trilateral commission on
investigation of Armenia's arming by Russia. According to the President Heydar
Aliyev, this issue will be risen as soon as new president Russia is elected.
As to visa regime suggested to be inculcated by Russia against Azerbaijan, the
head of state declared, it will not take place.
Certain positive changes in Azerbaijan's favor are being observed after Putin
came to power. V. Putin appreciated life conditions of Russian-language
population in Azerbaijan.
January 26, 2000, Wednesday
Russia tries to see that Karabakh problem is solved - Putin
Source: Interfax news agency, Moscow, in Russian 1334 gmt 24 Jan 00
Text of report by Russian news agency Interfax
Moscow, 24th January: Acting Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed
Russia's desire to assist in settling the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.
Russia "has done, and will do, everything possible to see that the difficult
Karabakh problem is resolved", the Russian leader said after his meeting
with President Heydar Aliyev of Azerbaijan and President Robert Kocharyan of
Armenia in Moscow on Monday [24th January].
In Putin's view, the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia are "full of
determination to reach an accord even though the problem is an extremely
difficult one for both states and peoples".
Putin stressed that Russia will guarantee the fulfilment of any agreements
on the problem that are reached between the two countries.
According to the Russian acting president, the direct contacts between the
Azeri and Armenian leaders had proved to be very effective.
Putin notes that mutual trust between the two sides is growing, they are
exchanging prisoners-of-war, the cease-fire regime is becoming stronger and
regular contacts have begun between the foreign and defence ministers of
Azerbaijan and Armenia.
In Putin's view, the main thing is that the leaders of the two countries are
consistently striving for a compromise solution to the dilemma of Nagornyy
Karabakh.
Russia supports direct dialogue between the two presidents and, for its
part, is taking active steps to promote the search for a solution to the
Karabakh problem that would satisfy the parties to the conflict. Should the
talks be successful, Russia would be willing to be a guarantor of such a
compromise settlement, stressed Putin.
He said that Russia had an active position in the OSCE Minsk group because
it chaired the group, along with the USA and France. "Its traditionally
friendly relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia enable Russian to assist in
the organization of negotiations between Baku and Yerevan," said the acting
president.
Putin made a particular point of the fact that agreement was reached today
on continuing contacts on this problem.
Copyright 2000 British Broadcasting Corporation
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts
8 YEARS PASS SINCE DASHALTI TRAGEDY
First battalions of the Azeri Army which was under creation
at the time were sent to the Shusha region in 1992. The city
had a great strategic importance for Azerbaijan, because it
was possible to shell the capital of Karabakh, Khankendi and
all surrounding villages from there. But the real danger was
coming from the village of Dashalti near Shusha. Liberation
of Dashalti was a primary task for the Azeri troops.
Preparation of the operation by high-ranked officers, using
preliminary intelligence date and shelling the village from
large-calibre all were supposed to make Dashalti?s liberation
just a matter of time. The operation began in a classic way,
that is several groups began storming the village from all
parts. The participants of the operation had afterwards
started blaming each other in failure to attack. The fact
that the group which came out of the woods and found itself
on a mine field and the absence of necessary fire support led
to eventual victory of the Armenians. The exact number of
Azeris died during the Dashalti operation is still unknown.
MEMORY OF SOLDIERS DIED DURING UNSUCCESSFUL DASHALTI
OPERATION MARKED
A meeting held at the Union of Shahids, Disabled and Veterans
(USDV) was dedicated to 8th anniversary of the unsuccessful
military operation in the village of Dashalti of Karabakh?s
Shusha region. Before opening the meeting, its participants
rose in memory of those who died during the Dashalti
operation. It was noted at the meeting that the figure of 76
soldiers which allegedly died during the operation doesn?t
correspond to the facts. The real figure makes 276. The
USDV Chairman, Yashar Maharramov has once again looked back
at the events and rated as injustice the fact of blaming all
Shusha residents for that. Maharramov made a proposal to
decorate all soldiers and officers, who fought in the
Dashalti operation, with orders. The commander of the Shusha
battalion Fakhraddin Safarov spoke of the battles and
fighters and called to fight those who didn?t fight at the
battle and nonetheless use veteran documents.
Copyright Habarlar-L Newslist
Edited on 26.01.2000
U.S. Assistant Secretary Steven Sestanovic has
reportedly stated that it would not be realistic to
expect the Turkish-Armenian border to be opened up in the
near future.
Sestanovic, who has met Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan and other high-level officials, made a
statement before leaving for Baku, the Armenian news
agency Armenpress reported. Sestanovic stated that the
United States had supported the opening of the
Turkish-Armenian border but added that it would be
premature to expect that to happen in the next few days.
"We endorse the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border
and believe that the Turkish government is aware that
such steps would benefit Turkey economically. But I
think that it will not be practicable until relations
between Turkey and Armenia are put in an order," said
Sestanovic.
During his visit to the region Sestanovic has been
holding meetings on regional cooperation and the peace
proposals prepared by the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) for the Nagorno-Karabagh
dispute.
Commenting on a possible stability pact in the Caucasus,
Sestanovic said the U.S. administration had supported
such initiatives, but added that timing was very
important for some disputes in the region required
further attention.
Copyright 2000 Turkish Daily News
Demirel tells Kocharian: Unsolved regional problems are
preventing stability and cooperation
In a recent letter to his Armenian counterpart Robert
Kocharian President Suleyman Demirel said the unsolved
problems in the Caucasus were preventing the
establishment of stability and more intensive cooperation
in the region, the Anatolia news agency reported on
Monday.
Quoting the Armenian wire service Armenpress, Anatolia
said Demirel had briefed Kocherian about his recent
meetings with the presidents of Azerbaijan and Georgia,
where the leaders apparently discussed ways and means to
boost peace, stability and friendly ties in the region.
Demirel recalled the peace offers made by Kocherian at
the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE) summit in Istanbul and at NATO meetings and said
that he too wants the establishment of a cooperation
forum in the Caucasus as well as the formation of a pact.
Demirel stressed Turkey and Armenia could cooperate from
their end.
Meanwhile Azeri President Haydar Aliyev and Kocherian met
in Moscow on Monday where Russian President Vladimir
Putin declared, "I feel the talks will lead to a very
positive result."
Putin said Russia was prepared to act as a guarantor for
an eventual solution. He also said he saw that the two
leaders were determined to iron out a solution.
The presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia have held a
series of talks on a possible solution to the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem and the withdrawal of Armenian
forces from Azeri-occupied territory. The two leaders
are expected to meet again at the upcoming Davos
conference.
Copyright 2000 Turkish Daily News
Armenia Voices 'Separate' Position At CIS Summit
YEREVAN (Itar-Tass)-President Robert Kocharian
indicated on Tuesday that Armenia's position on settling
ethnic conflicts in the former Soviet Union is different
from that of other members of the Commonwealth of
Independent States.
Speaking at a joint conference following the CIS summit
in Moscow, Kocharian highlighted his country's "separate
position on that issue" amid overwhelming support by
other ex-Soviet leaders for the principle of territorial
integrity. Earlier in the day, Russia's Acting President
Vladimir Putin said Moscow stands for the "absolute
recognition of territorial integrity" in conflict
resolution. Armenia, on the other hand, has long
insisted that principle should not apply to the conflict
over Nagorno-Karabakh, which it does not view as part of
Azerbaijan. During the 1996 summit of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Yerevan vetoed a
clause in a final document upholding Azeri sovereignty
over the disputed territory.
Putin's remarks were made after a meeting between the
presidents of the three South Caucasus states attended by
the Russian leader. They came against the background of
Moscow's four-month military campaign to regain control
over its breakaway region of Chechnya bordering on
Georgia.
Putin on Monday hosted a separate meeting between
Kocharian and his Azeri counterpart Haydar Aliyev, with
the Karabakh issue topping the agenda. He said Russia
supports the ongoing direct contacts between the two
leaders and expressed optimism about their results.
"Russia is ready to act as a guarantor of any agreements
reached by the leaders of the two countries," he said.
Russia is one of three co-chairs of the OSCE's Minsk
Group which is currently working on a new Karabakh peace
plan.
Putin, speaking at a news conference on Tuesday on the
results of the Commonwealth summit, noted that "the
Caucasus can be called without any overestimation one of
the most difficult regions in the world," reported the
Itar-Tass news agency.
Turning to the dialogue between Azerbaijan, Armenia,
Georgia and Russia on Caucasus problems, Putin emphasized
that all the four countries proceed from the premise that
"their joint work in the regional sphere should not
create new obstacles" in relations with other countries.
"We shall operate under the well-known medical
principle-not to harm," Putin noted.
He stressed that the four countries will operate "on the
principles of international law, one of the most
important of which is absolute recognition of territorial
integrity of a sovereign state."
"Only one thing should be the final aim of our
activities: to create conditions for stability, peace
and prosperity," Putin continued.
Azeri President Haydar Aliyev called on Russia to pay
more "close attention" to the Caucasian region. He
claimed that "until now, Russia did not pay due attention
to the region."
Aliyev believes that historic responsibility rests with
Russia for this region due to the fact that it is the
successor of the former Soviet Union.
"Russia personally experiences difficulties, because
there are difficult problems in the Caucasus," he added.
Turning to a meeting which was held in the framework of
the CIS summit between the leaders of Azerbaijan,
Armenia, Georgia and Russia on the Caucasian problems,
Aliyev expressed opinion that "it is too early to speak
about solutions, but this is already a forward movement".
He noted that Russia displayed "great interest in
ensuring security and cooperation in the Caucasus." To
achieve this aim, in his opinion, it is necessary, above
all, "to remove the conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan."
"I believe the meeting was very useful, but this is the
start of our further cooperation," the Azeri president
underlined.
Also on Tuesday, Putin held a series of bilateral
meetings with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev,
Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze, Turkmen President
Saparmurat Niyazov, Uzbek President Islam Karimov and
Armenian President Robert Kocharian.
The Armenian delegation led by Kocharian left for Moscow
Monday to participate in the meeting of the CIS Heads of
State Council.
The delegation includes Prime Minister Aram Sargsyan,
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian, Minister of Defense
Vagharshak Haroutiunian, Minister of Agriculture Gagik
Shahbazian, and other officials.
The Summit was expected to discuss the program of
cooperation between the CIS member-countries until 2005.
The provisions on the CIS Executive Council and Economic
Council are also to be approved.
The Summit will discuss the problems of combating
international terrorism in light of the results of the
OSCE Istanbul Summit.
The CIS leaders will also address the settlement of the
Abkhazian conflict. In that connection, the CIS
Executive Council will report on the execution of the
decision made at the meeting of the CIS Heads of State
Council on April 2, 1999.
The Summit participants are also to discuss tasks of the
joint anti-monopoly policy, creation of a free trade
zone, a number of organizational matters
Copyright 2000 Itar-TASS
German Ambassador Says Karabakh Settlement to Promote
Healthy Relations
YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)-"Germany hopes that a settlement of
the Karabakh conflict can be reached soon. We urge both
countries to work towards the peaceful settlement of this
conflict. Germany has been very much engaged in the
efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group to assist Armenia and
Azerbaijan in finding a solution to the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict," German Ambassador to Armenia Volker Seitz said
in a Noyan Tapan interview.
Commenting on the situation in the region and
possibilities of establishing stability, Seitz said that
the major elements of stability in the Caucasus should be
the settlement of existing conflicts, the reduction of
tensions, and finally a grand strategy of regional
cooperation. According to him, the countries of the
Caucasus could in this respect keep in mind the
Franco-German experience of reconciliation after World
War II: "Indeed, after three major and disastrous wars,
the foresight of eminent leaders, Adenauer and de Gaulle,
to engage in close bilateral and regional cooperation
laid the foundation of the European Economic Community,
and, hence, of the future peace and prosperity in
Europe."
Describing Armenian-German relations in the sphere of
economy, sciences, education and culture as excellent,
the Ambassador underlined: "If, indeed, a settlement for
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict can be found, and regional
cooperation is strengthened, it is likely that the
cooperation between Armenia and Germany will be further
improved." Seitz underlined in this respect the many
possibilities available to Armenia thanks to the
Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the European
Union.
All news have been copied from Habarlar-L Newslist
Edited on 25.01.2000
ARMENIAN, AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENTS MEET
IN MOSCOW.
Acting Russian President Vladimir Putin chaired "frank and
substantive" talks in Moscow on 24 January between Kocharian
and his Azerbaijani counterpart Heidar Aliev on the Karabakh
peace process, Russian agencies reported. In a subsequent
statement, Putin underscored the usefulness of, and Russia's
support for, the ongoing dialogue on that subject between the
two leaders who, he added, "are consistently seeking to find
a compromise solution" to the conflict. Putin said Russia
would be prepared to act as guarantor of such a settlement.
Neither Aliev nor Kocharian has made any public statement on
their talks. LF
RFE/RL
Russia's Putin to help resolve Karabakh conflict
03:20 p.m Jan 24, 2000 Eastern
MOSCOW, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Russia's Acting President
Vladimir Putin offered on Monday to help ex-Soviet
Armenia and Azerbaijan resolve their long-standing
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, Russian news agencies
said.
``Russia will continue to do everything possible to
help resolve the very complicated problem of
Karabakh,'' Interfax news agency quoted Putin as
saying after a Kremlin meeting with the presidents of
the two Transcaucasus republics.
Putin said Armenia's Robert Kocharyan and
Azerbaijan's Haidar Aliyev were ``totally resolved to
achieve an agreement even if this problem is of the
utmost difficulty for both countries.''
Russia, he said, was ready to act as a guarantor for
any agreement the two republics might clinch to end
the conflict which erupted in the final years of
Soviet rule. About 35,000 people died before a 1994
ceasefire was proclaimed.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have made some progress to
resolving their differences over Karabakh, a region
located within Azerbaijan but populated mainly by
ethnic Armenians.
Armenian forces occupy large chunks of Azerbaijan's
territory seized during the war, during which tens of
thousands of people were forced to leave their homes.
Talks were called off last year after gunmen broke
into Armenia's parliament and killed the prime
minister and six other officials.
Kocharyan and Aliyev were in Moscow to attend a
meeting on Tuesday of the 11-member Commonwealth of
Independent States, formed by former Soviet republics
following the collapse of communist rule.
Copyright 2000 Reuters Limited
Armenian, Azerbaijani Leaders Meet Over
Nagorno-Karabakh
MOSCOW, Jan 24, 2000 -- (Agence France Presse)
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and his
Azerbaijani counterpart Heydar Aliyev met Monday in
the Kremlin to discuss possible solutions to the
dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh, Itar-Tass news agency
reported.
Acting Russian President Vladimir Putin was due to
join the two leaders at the end of the meeting, which
took place during a summit of former Soviet
republics.
Nagorno-Karabakh, an Azerbaijani territory populated
mainly by Armenians, proclaimed independence in 1991
after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and has
repeatedly called for union with Armenia.
More than 20,000 people died in sporadic fighting in
the region between 1988 and 1998, and thousands were
forced to flee their homes. Despite the current
cease-fire, no solution to the dispute has yet been
found.
Copyright 2000 Agence France Presse
TURKEY SOLICITS ARMENIAN SUPPORT FOR
REGIONAL STABILITY PACT.
Turkish President Suleyman Demirel has written to his
Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian to urge that Armenia
endorse the Caucasus stability pact that Demirel proposed
during his visit to Georgia earlier this month, RFE/RL's
Yerevan bureau reported on 24 January, quoting Kocharian's
press office (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 17 January 2000).
Demirel argued that the pact, which is to be guaranteed by
the international community, will "bring peace, stability,
and prosperity not only to the Caucasus region but to the
whole of Eurasia." He expressed confidence that Armenia and
Turkey can act on their shared interests in strengthening
regional peace and stability. It was not clear whether
Demirel's missive made any concrete proposal on establishing
formal diplomatic relations with Armenia. LF
OSCE PREPARES NEW PROPOSALS FOR SOLUTION OF KARABAKH
PROBLEM
The Special Advisor to the U.S. President on NIS
Affairs, Steven Sestanovich said during his current
visit to Baku that his goal is to conduct talks with
President Heydar Aliyev and other government
officials concerning development of bilateral
relations and a number of other issues. The most
important is to continue talks towards solution of
the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and exchange opinions
of the peace diplomacy. I must note that the OSCE?s
Minsk Group is currently working over new proposals
and I hope they will bring positive results, Mr.
Sestanovich said. As for the reality of the U.S.
joining the Southern Caucasus Security Pact, the U.S.
diplomat said the following: We are adherent to
expanding cooperation in the region and there are
various suggestions for doing it. To my opinion,
these suggestions must be discussed carefully.
President Heydar Aliyev believes, new proposals of the Minsk group have to forward negotiations process
Baku. 24.01.2000. /AzadInform/. The President of the republic H. Aliyev hosted
on January 22 the US Secretary of State special adviser on NIS Steven
Sestanovich and US co-chairman of the Minsk group K. Kavano.
The head of State dwelt on a number of meetings with the US President Bill
Clinton arranged since 1994 up to day and mentioned of Bill Clinton's statement
"I'll try to settle the Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict till expiration of my
office". The President also stressed, the peaceful resolution of the conflict
will be reached in 2000. The Minsk group's new proposals due to be started must
accelerate negotiations process in contrast to the previous ones, which hampered
negotiations, Heydar Aliyev said. The head of state appreciated practical steps
of the US government as well as S. Sestanovich and K. Kavano for carrying out
restoration works on the territories liberated from occupation, though the Minsk
group didn't advanced any offer in this sphere within 7 years.
OSCE's MINSK GROUP SUPPORTS AZERI-ARMENIAN
PRESIDENTIAL TALKS
The U.S. co-chair of the OSCE?s Minsk Group, Kerry
Kavanaugh said in connection with the Karabakh
problem that he supports his colleagues? opinion
regarding restoration of Azerbaijan-Armenia talks
within this group. Mr. Kavanaugh repeated the
statement made by the Special Advisor to the U.S.
President on NIS Affairs, Steven Sestanovich, who
said that the OSCE?s Minsk Group is currently working
over new proposals concerning the Karabakh problem.
The U.S. co-chair said also that the two leaders
will express their opinions about which details in
concrete should be worked over. The OSCE Minsk Group
member states will meet in Vienna in February to
decide on which issues they will work, Kerry
Kavanaugh concluded.
Heydar Aliyev stated, information on opening of the Turkish-Armenian boundary is groundless
Baku. 24.01.2000. /AzadInform/. On January 23 the President of Azerbaijan Heydar
Aliyev left for Moscow to attend the next session of the heads of CIS states. At
the briefing in "Bina" airport the president informed journalists about the
issues to be discussed at the summit.
Touching upon upcoming meeting with president of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, the
head of state noted on participation of the acting president of Russia V. Putin.
There will be held also a meeting of heads of Azerbaijan, Russia, Georgia and
Armenia.
President Heydar Aliyev also rejected information on opening of boundaries
between Turkey and Armenia and quoted words of Turkish President Suleyman
Demirel: "Key to open Turkish-Armenian boundary is in the hand of Turkey and
Azerbaijan".
Armenia and Azerbaijan to work on freeing POWs and
finding missing persons
Posted Saturday, January 22,
2000 - 11:12 GMT by News Editor
Yerevan, 12th January [as received]: It has not been
ruled out that a meeting of members of the trilateral
Armenian-Azerbaijani-Georgian commission on POWs and
missing persons, which operates under the aegis of
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE), will be held by the end of January this year,
the chairman of the standing commission on state and
legal issues of the Armenian parliament, Viktor
Dallakyan, has told a Snark correspondent. Each
country will be represented by three MPs. A French
representative will be also included on the
commission. Their names will be announced in the
near future.
Dallakyan attached major importance to the activity
of this commission because he said that the bilateral
contacts could facilitate the restoration of an
atmosphere of confidence between Armenia and
Azerbaijan and a settlement of political problems in
future. Dallakyan said that there is a preliminary
agreement with Azerbaijan about direct contacts
without mediators. He added that the dialogue which
was started by the presidents of both countries is
already continuing at the level of the chairmen of
the parliamentary commissions of the two countries.
Dallakyan said that both parties are fully informed
regarding POWs and missing persons and that an
exchange will be held on the principle of "all for
all" in accordance with Azerbaijan's proposal.
Dallakyan pointed out that the number of POWs is far
less than the number of missing persons. A total of
363 people are considered missing from Armenia.
Concerning POWs Dallakyan said that Azerbaijan has
claimed that it has no POWs. However, Armenia's
operational information says that there are about 10
POWs in Azerbaijan. The problem was that the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
obtained all the information about POWs on site, i.e.
Azerbaijan deluded the ICRC, Dallakyan said.
Regarding the moral and physical rehabilitation of
POWs and missing persons Dallakyan said that after
the relevant commission of the Council of Europe had
examined the situation, the latter would allocate
specific funds for this purpose.
Source: Snark news agency, Yerevan
Copyright 2000 The Caspian Times
Copyright Habarlar-L newslist
