Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr S. Aghayeva / Independent Azerbaijani politicians do not expect the forthcoming meeting between Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents in Saint-Petersburg to result in a serious break-through in the settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.
"I do not see changes in Armenian society that could lead to the decisions by Armenian President, Robert Kocheryan, that could make a possible break-through at the talks," Ilgar Mammadov, a politician, stated.
According to Mammadov, the process of negotiations and the layout of the peace agreement must provide an answer for the main question which is being posed, 'to which country will the Nagorno-Karabakh region remain part of, after the settlement?' "If Armenian society is ready to provide an answer for this question, then that will satisfy the Azerbaijani side, to be exact if the sovereignty of Azerbaijan is restored and Nagorno-Karabakh remains a part of the country, then the break-through will be possible. If not, then I will be confused by the optimism of the OSCE Minsk Group's co-chairmen," Mammadov said.
As to determination of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, the politician said that if any procedure provided for self-determination of Nagorno-Karabakh as a composite part of Azerbaijan, then it would be acceptable for Azerbaijan.
According to another politician, Rasim Musabeyov, the forthcoming meeting of the Presidents in Saint-Petersburg can be considered to be successful, providing the Presidents say to journalists after the meeting that the positions of the sides had been drawn together. Nothing else should be expected from the meeting. Holding a referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh in order to determine its status contradicts Azerbaijani constitution, the politician said. "I do not believe Azerbaijan will agree at the meeting to hold the referendum," he stressed.