Official news
The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, issued a decree on protection of the historical-cultural riches in the territory of Gobustan reserve to preserve national wealth at the area and bring to future generations as well as propagandize the country's ancient cultural heritage. The Cabinet and relevant governmental bodies are assigned to prepare and implement appropriate measures.
Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev, issued a decree on 12 June on draft of Azerbaijani citizens to military service since 1 July to 30 July, 2007 for a fixed period and transfer to a reserve of servicemen that have completed the fixed period of service.
The decree provides for draft of young men born in 1989 to military service for a fixed period since 1-30 July, 2007, as well as men born within 1972-1988, up to 35 years old, who have not the right for draft determent in Azerbaijani Armed Forces. In accordance with the decree, soldiers, sailors, and sergeants that have completed the period of service fixed in the Law on Military Service are to be transferred to reserve.
The Cabinet of Ministers and local executive bodies have been charged with implementation of arrangements provided by the legislation on the occasion.
Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev, issued a decree on the 12th of June on the establishment of the Academy of State Border Service of Azerbaijan Republic. The establishment of the Academy is intended for the training of specialized high educated personnel, military scientific workers, as well as the improvement of their skills, holding of scientific researches in the field of protection of state borders. The Cabinet of Ministers has been charged with the implementation of the arrangements on the occasion
On June 13, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, got familiarized with the course of repair and reconstruction activities at the Heydar Aliyev Sports and Concert Complex in Baku. The President was informed that the work begun in November 2006 has been implemented by the company Serb-Az. The 18,000 sq m front of the building has been covered with facing materials delivered from Greece, with windows made of stained glass manufactured in Belgium. The hall, which can host 7,800 spectators, has been furnished with seats supplied from Czechia, and equipped with two Korean-made scoreboards. The first and second floors of the building have been covered with Italian granite slabs. The Complex has also been equipped with a special lighting system. Cost of the reconstruction work is estimated at AZN 11.6 mln. Important sports events the Complex is to host in the near future are: the 23rd European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship (early July), World Junior Boxing Championship (August) and World Wresting Championship September).
Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev, has signed a decree on 'Awarding Special Scholarships to Young Gifted Persons'.
In accordance with the presidential decree, eleven young gifted persons in the field of music will be included into the Golden Book of Young Gifted Persons of Azerbaijan and will receive a special monthly scholarship.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received today famous Azerbaijani pianist, composer and jazz singer Aziza Mustafazadeh and her mother, famous musician Elza Mustafazadeh. The Head of State stressed that Baku Jazz Festival is an important event in the cultural life of Azerbaijan. He expressed confidence that Aziza Mustafazadeh who worthily represent Azerbaijani culture abroad, will not lose touch with Azerbaijan
A. Mustafazadeh thanked President Ilham Aliyev for appreciation of her work, saying she has always felt Ilham Aliyev's support on her path to success
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received today renowned opera singer, USSR people's artist Elena Obrastsova who is participating in the International Baku Jazz Festival. The Head of State expressed his confidence that the festival will contribute to development of the Azerbaijani culture.
Renowned opera singer Elena Obrastsova recalled national leader Heydar Aliyev with great respect. E. Obrastsova pointed out she had not been to Baku for ages, saying she is amazed to see how much the city has developed.
The Head of State told of the economic development of Azerbaijan, protection of historical monuments in the country, and work done to develop Azerbaijani culture.
Parliament
During a special session of the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament) judges were appointed to the Supreme and Regional Appeal Courts of Azerbaijan on 16 June.
Ali Huseinov, the chairman of the permanent Parliamentary Commission on Law Policy and State Building, stated that the Azerbaijani President on the basis of Article 109 of the Constitution sent to Parliament the document, envisaging the appointment of judges to the Supreme and Regional Appeal Courts.
The chairman noted serious reforms in the Court system of Azerbaijan.
According to Huseinov, the appointments make up 60% of the judiciary of the country.
After discussions four judges were appointed to the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan, 21 to the Baku Appeal Court, seven to the Appeal Court of Ganja, seven to the Appeal Court of Sumgayit, seven to the Appeal Court of Ali Bayramli and seven to the Appeal Court of Sheki.
In compliance with Parliament the judges of the Supreme, Appeal and Economic Courts of Azerbaijan were relieved of their posts.
The chairman of the Ana Vatan party, MP Fazayil Aghamaly, urged at a special meeting of the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani parliament) on 16 June that Azerbaijan should liberate the occupied territories via war. He noted that the expectations of the Azerbaijani community of peaceful talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia, in particular from the latest meeting in St Petersburg, had not come to fruition due to the non-constructive position of the Armenian side. "For this reason Azerbaijan should prepare itself for war," Aghamaly stated.
According to Aghamaly, extension of the 2007 budget paid special attention to the field of the military and the strengthening of the army which will provide conditions for a war. The MP addressed the Speaker, Ogtay Asadov, asking for his suggestion to be taken to the relative official channels.
A member of Musavat deputy group, Panah Huseyn, considers military operations to be the only way for a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He noted that the government should take measures in connection to this. "My position reflects the viewpoint of the entire opposition," the deputy added. "The opposition is ready for cooperation and joint work with the authorities for a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The decision was made at the forum held several days ago," he said. The deputy stated that the opposition was unanimous in the position on the refusal of holding a referendum on determination of the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh.
Foreign policy
The Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov, said on 11 June that Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan agreed to restore the activities of the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Baku.
"The date is set for opening the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Baku," the Minister said. According to Mammadyarov, the sides also agreed upon establishing an Inter-Governmental Commission. An energy co-operation will especially be considered within the commission. The Minister said that Turkmenistan expressed readiness to develop co-operation with Azerbaijan.
The Ambassador of the European Union to Azerbaijan, Alan Vadmas, briefed the media in Baku on 11 June that EU representation in Baku will be established by November.
According to Vadmas, the candidate for this position will be elected. The candidature of Vadmas himself will be considered.
The Ambassador said that a meeting of the representatives of the European Commission and Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan are planned to be held in September. On 11 July, Vadmas discussed the preparations for the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan.
The representative of the Foreign Ministry of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyid Mahammadali Huseyni , said at a press-conference in Tehran that Iran attentively follows the discussions over the Russian President's proposal to jointly use the Russian-leased Azerbaijan Gabala Radar Station with the US.
He stressed that establishing a missile buffer in Europe is forwarded towards the efforts of the USA to become hegemony in the continent and strengthen its image.
"Several politicians consider that this plan aims to outrun the missiles of China and Russia. To prevent it, Russia involves Azerbaijan, Iraq and Turkey. We are considering and following the discussions over this issue," Huseyni said.
He stressed that during bilateral talks with Russia, discussions will be held over the reasons of appearance of such issues.
Azerbaijan can play a model role in the settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian problem, Israeli Foreign Minister, Yossi Gal, stated in Baku on 12 June at a press conference after his two-day visit to Baku.
According to Gal, the situation in the Middle East was discussed during talks with Azerbaijani Government officials. Israel's position is to establish two states in the Middle East - Israel and Palestine. Establishment of Palestine should be implemented by the will of the Palestinian people. A principal agreement is that the newly established state will have to live in peace with Israel. Israel does its best to achieve peace in the region, however, extremists impede that. Palestinians are backed by a number of countries from outside including Iran, Syria, and others, Gal noted.
The Baku declaration will be a key political document which is planned to be adopted at the next GUAM summit to be held in Azerbaijan. The GUAM summit has been scheduled to take place on 19 June in Baku, the Secretary General of GUAM ( Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova), Valeri Chechelashvili informed Trend Special Correspondent in Kiev. GUAM was established in 1997. GUAM received its status as an international organization in 2006 at its first summit in the Ukraine.
The approaching summit will be its second one.
"I thing that in the Baku declaration, the Presidents will firstly make a political assessment regardomg what has been already done within GUAM and accordingly will make their recommendations and visions for cooperation in the next years," Chechelashvili said. In addition, he highlighted it as very important to adopt a program of Azerbaijan's chairmanship to GUAM. The whole plan regarding the measures and chairmanship will be agreed and we will have an exact action plan by the upcoming GUAM summit following Baku, in Tbilisi," the Secretary General added.
According to Chechelashvili, the summit and meetings of the sectoral working groups, Committee of National Coordinators and Council of Foreign Ministers which will take place on the eve of the summit will make decisions in all spectrums of political, economical, cultural and humanitarian problems. "It means that we will have the GUAM development program for the upcoming years," he said.
Moreover, a number of concrete documents will be signed, including two urgent ones - contracts on cooperation to ensure radiation security and on cooperation regarding multimodal transportation. For the future institutionalization of GUAM, an agreement will be signed on immunities in the organization.
GUAM's head voiced his hope that the issue of creating peacekeeping forces will be the focus of attention at the meeting of the Committee of National Coordinators in Baku on 16-17 June.
"I am sure that the documents to be adopted within the summit will seriously assist in progressing GUAM," he said.
Johannes Kirle, the Secretary General of the Austrian Ministry for European and International Issues, is expected to participate in the GUAM summit to be held in Baku on the 18-19 June.
Fuad Ismayilov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Austria, said in a telephone talk, that Austria was invited to the summit due to its great interests in the region, including Azerbaijan.
During the visit Kirle plans to discuss bilateral meetings with the Azerbaijani officials. "The talks will focus on bilateral co-operation, co-operation within the framework of the European Union's New Neighborhood Program, as well as opportunities for Austrian assistance to Azerbaijan in the implantation of plans," the diplomat added.
Russian-American consultations on the use of Azerbaijani Gabala Radar Station in the American Anti-Missile Defence (AMD) system will begin after the visit of the Russian President to the United States scheduled for the beginning of July, the head of the Joint Staff of Russian Armed Forces, Yuri Baluyevski, has stated.
"You know that in the beginning of July Putin will visit the United States. I hope during the visit the American side will officially announce its decision on the proposal. It will then be possible to begin the consultations," Baluyevski said to journalists.
On the 7th of June, as a result of the meeting with the US President George Bush, during the G-8 summit in Heiligendamm, Germany, Putin highlighted his proposal to jointly use the Russian-leased Azerbaijan Gabala Radar Station with the US. The station is a part of the Russian system which tracks the movement of ballistic missiles. In response to the plans of the US to establish a missile-defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic, the Russian President highlighted the key advantage of such an approach: the system will be in maximum proximity to the object being tracked and observed. Putin said that any new situations surrounding Iranian missiles will be possible to observe through scouting.
"Judging by the reaction of the US Administration, my military counterparts, they were trembling with shock," Baluyevski said. He was commenting on the reaction of American side to the proposal. The head of the Joint Staff noted that he had participated in the development of such a proposal. According to Baluyevski, the proposal destroys the United States plans on the deployment of AMD in Europe, Ria Novosti ( ) quotes.
Speaking on the recent testing of the Iskandar complexes, Baluyevski stressed that the testing enables Russia to say that it has something to protect. "We never threatened other countries, but nevertheless, we must have weapons, that cost less, but do not yield to the weapons of our partners. It would be terrible if Russia did not have these weapons," he said.
"As to the Russian reason and mother wit we can leave a lot of countries behind. I believe it is not too late," Baluyevski noted.
Huseyngulu Bagirov, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, stated on 13 June that the State Commission is studying the negative impact of the Gabala Radar Station on the environment and human health.
The level of impact of radiation on the environment will be defined as a result of long observations and studies.
With respect to statements by specialists who urge that the joint use of the stations by the United States and Russia will boost damage to the environment and human health, the Minister stressed that it cannot be related to the level of intensive use of the radar station by the countries. "The level of impact of the RS on the environment will be defined with the number of facilities that carry out observation," he clarified.
Bagirov stressed that the Gabala RS assumes great importance for Azerbaijan from a political point of view. It is not only an ecological issue, but it also assumes political colors. There is a commission to investigate the issue and we will implement its decision," the Minister emphasized.
The Press Secretary of the White House, Tony Snow called the Russian President's proposal on the joint use of the Russian-leased Azerbaijan Gabala Radar Station with the US a "constructive step forward" .
"Now we have grounds for talk," Snow briefed the media on the 12th of June in Washington. "As you know, the complexity of this issue was undetermined until the G8 summit, Russia was decisively against any missile defense system, yet now Russia is willing and we consider this to be a constructive step forward," the Press Secretary of George Bush stated.
"We do not consider this a game. We see this as a policy of constructive effort to search for the best system, which will ensure security for all," Snow said. Thus, the Presidents of Russia and the USA will meet again in Kennebankport ( Men State) in the near future to further discuss this issue, RIA Novosti reports.
In addition, according to Snow, consultations are planned at the level of ministers and national security advisers with regards to the Russian proposal and missile defense system.
"I hope that the new Parliament of France will not adopt the law penalizing denial of the so-called 'Armenian genocide'," said the Head Advisor of the Ambassador of France, Syivain Guiaugue.
According to the diplomat, formerly the Low Chamber of the French Parliament, the National Assembly approved the draft law penalizing the denial of the Armenian genocide even though it was committed in the Ottoman Empire in 1915-1917. The ex-President of France, Jacque Chirac and Senate protested against the adoption of such a law, saying that it may bring harm upon the relations with Turkey.
Guiaugue expressed that the new Parliament of France faces more significant goals and targets, including the strengthening of the bilateral relations, improvement of the legislation, etc.
Touching upon the future policy of the new French President, Nokolai Sarkozi, with regards to Azerbaijan, the diplomat stated that "the attitude of France towards Baku will remain the same and I hope that they will be successive". "We expect the expansion of the co-operation with Azerbaijan in many spheres after the formation of the new Government of France," According to Guiaugue, it is planned to organize mutual visits from the senior officials of the two countries.
In relation to the question on the supposed official visit of the French President, Nokolai Sarkozi, to Azerbaijan, the advisor said that currently this issue is not being discussed. "Nokolai Sarkozi has recently begun his activities and the first communication of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and France is to be expected. Till then, it will be impossible to speak of the visit," he said. In regards to the position of the new French President to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, the diplomat said that France will continue its efforts to settle the conflict.
According to Guiaugue, the French Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group informed the new French President of the history and settlement process of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "Our position is that the co-chairs are only mediators, but settling the conflict depends on the sides themselves," the diplomat underlined.
The agreement on the disputable of territories in the Azerbaijani-Russia border has been reached, the chairman of the State Committee on Land and Cartography, Garib Mammadov , reported in Baku on the 13th of June.
According to Mammadov , the State Commission on the Determination of Azerbaijani-Russian Borders proceeds with its work. He noted that three areas have not been agreed upon yet, which are Stikh area in Azerbaijani Balakan region, Forest Resources, and Waterworks Facility in Azerbaijani Khachmaz region.
"Azerbaijani and Russian experts have carried out the work on the co-ordination of the territories and an agreement was reached. A meeting of the Inter-Governmental Commission will be held in the Dagestan Republic of the Russian Federation on the 27th to the 29th of June and the issue will be resolved," Mammadov reported.
The next meeting of the Inter-Governmental Commission on Delimitation and Demarcation of Azerbaijani-Georgian Borders will be held in Tbilisi, the chairman said. Mammadov noted that the experts of the State Committee jointly with Georgia had examined the disputable territories. "The next meeting is planned to be held in Tbilisi. We are awaiting an invitation from Georgia," he added.
The Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko thinks that regional initiatives, like the international organization GUAM, are very important for the progression of national interests of post-Soviet countries, such as Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova.
The key task of the Baku summit of GUAM is to form the pragmatic content, which will provide further prospects in relations among member-countries of the organization, Yushchenko stated in an interview with Trend and some Azerbaijani media outlets on 13 June.
GUAM, uniting Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova, was established in 1997. GUAM was granted status of an international organization in 2006 at its first summit was in Ukraine. The forthcoming summit will be the second summit of GUAM.
A Trend special correspondent reported from Kiev that Yushchenko outlined regional economic projects, first of all the economic complex, as the most important issues to be discussed at the Baku summit.
"At the recent Energy summit in Warsaw I discussed with my counterparts, including the Azerbaijani President, ways of upgrading and expanding opportunities of an alternative energy supply to the region and the European market as a whole. We particularly mulled over the Odessa-Brody project, which is of great importance to us, and the European Union, as well as north Europe," he announced. This is a new market for Azerbaijani oil and a new project for Europe. The EU supported this project and allocated a grant for the development of a feasibility study of the project. An international group has been established for the project, which also includes experts from energy ministries and administrations of Azerbaijan. "Thus, it can be one of our significant projects," the President emphasized.
Yushchenko regarded transport projects as economic, mentioning the railway from Baku to Georgia and Turkey, which will also involve Ukrainian companies engaged in equipment material supplies.
The second important transport project is the ferry passage Kerch - Poti - Batumi. "A group of experts from relevant state administrations are developing a basis for the project We hope to commission this project officially next year" the Ukrainian President assured.
Yushchenko regards the integration of the four countries in free trade as important. "This decision has been made and now the adaptation of this regime with every country is underway. So, bilateral agreements that have been concluded so far, are under going expert analysis and the parts which fall short of free trade zone are excluded," he stressed.
The Ukrainian President regarded security projects as another important package of issues within GUAM. "We come from the position that the establishment of a peacekeeping battalion, authorized to work with a mandate from the UN Security Council and OSCE in conflict regions, including GUAM, will be very interesting to consider. Discussions on the issue are intensifying and I think the Baku summit will seriously advance this issue," he added.
Speaking of possible initiatives by Ukraine at the forthcoming GUAM summit in Baku, the President outlined issues regarding aviation construction, and informed of new documents developed by the Antonov Construction Bureau. He attaches great importance to the idea of the establishment of a satellite working on joint use mode. "Moreover, it is very important for us to carry out political coordination on other issues of our cooperation and mutual relations in any process in and out of the region, to form a unified consolidated position of the GUAM countries with respect to development in Europe and in the world," he said.
In 2006, Belarus sold to Azerbaijan forty-one T-72 tanks. These figures were published in the UN Register on Conventional Arms, on the basis of official information provided by Belarus, the Belarus BELTA agency reported.
In compliance with the UN Register, renewed on 22 May, Belarus did not implement another arms export in 2005.
In 2005 Belarus delivered nineteen T-72 tanks to Azerbaija
It is not worth it to be optimistic and consider that any progress between the United States and Russia on the Gabala Radar Station could lead to the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, according to political expert, head of the Department of Inter-Nation Relations of the Institute of Political and Military Analysis, Sergey Markedonov .
Commenting on the results of talks between the President of Azerbaijan and Armenia in St. Petersburg on 9 June, Markedonov noted that he does not see any ground to state that any progress is possible. There are no compromises in approaches and compromises in the figures, and these compromise are not predicted, while statements by mediators are an attempt to justify their activities, or more exactly their inactivity, because no real projects are being offered," he added.
Over fifteen years of conducting talks on resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh, all possible, even the by-package, by-stage resolution, and exchange of territory, has been offered. They will hardly offer something new. Karabakh cannot be considered the Western bank of the Jordan River and the Gazza Sector. This is a Jerusalem sacred for both Armenians and Azerbaijanis.
If progress between the United States and Russia in the issue of joint use of the Gabala Radar Station leads to any result, this will be the resolution of the problem. "Indeed such attempts will be taken by Azerbaijan and it is logical. I am not sure that it will produce a serious breakthrough, both the United States and Russia have factors that restrict a pro-Azerbaijani policy," Markedonov stressed.
For the United States it is an authoritative Armenian lobby, and similarly, the Armenian community in Russia is 1,000,000 strong. The political expert is sure in the intensification of talks on Kazakhstan, appearance of new or projects introduced as new, whereas the settlement is presented as impossible at present.
As to success of the United States, or Russia in the Gabala issue, the political expert stressed that the project has two components - political and military. With respect to military constituents, Markedonov said that even dilettantes understand that radar cannot blow up missiles. "It can only note the launch of the so-called possible enemy, but cannot blow them up. It certainly does not cancel the missile-defense system. Some Western media wrote, and not accidentally, that 'Putin accepted our truth and acknowledged that there is a need for a missile defense system. That is all what concerns the military constituent." Markedonov noted.
As to the political constituent, the political expert said that it is necessary to note that the United States and Russia need Azerbaijan as stable and secular, even if authoritarian. " Russia does not have any interest here, while the United State might have. The United States forgives Azerbaijan for stepping back towards traditional canons on human rights, democracy, etc. In 2003, like in 2005, Russia and the United States received the Azerbaijan presidential elections in a regular way. But I think in 2008, the United States and Russia will rival to be the first in congratulating Ilham Aliyev [the Azerbaijani President] on his victory," Markedonov stressed.
The Russian political expert said that in political sense, Russia ad the United States need stable, secular and modern Azerbaijan, i.e. a point of contact. " it seems only possible to find common spheres of cooperation between the United States and Russia, in particular, in the South Caucasus. It can be fully realized," he emphasized.
Special Correspondent Trend E.Huseynov / "The topic of 'hot' and 'cold' conflicts on the territories of GUAM countries (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova) still remains actual for Ukraine," said the President of Ukraine, Victor Yushenka, on 14 June in Ukraine in his interview with Trend Agency and other several Azerbaijani TV channels, commenting on the issue of establishing peacekeeping forces of GUAM.
"When we consider the issue of forming peacekeeping forces, firstly we should proceed from the issue that no-one is going to use such troops without the will of the Parliament, relevant mandate or Security Council or OSCE," he said.
In addition, Yushenka considers that the history and geography provide an opportunity to, through the activity of such peacekeeping troops, significantly optimize the settlement of 'hot' and 'cold' conflicts. According to the Ukrainian President, this issue is also actual for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova.
"I think that holding open dialogue and respecting the realization of the national interests in GUAM format, the partners can reach a more effective agreement on the rational use of such kinds of military divisions. I believe that such divisions may result in new possibilities to settle old conflicts," Yushenka said.
According to the Ukrainian President, to regulate these conflicts, it needs to find a new regime of confidence, new tools and ways.
"We will begin forming those policies which presently meet the issues of conflict settlement. For instance, we speak about the Pridnestrov conflict. More than one year ago, we suggested plan of conflict settlement which on the one hand, was unanimously accepted by the Moldovan Parliament and on the other hand, by the Pridnestrov side. It means that already there is a plan for conflict settlement. Now it needs to devise a schedule to implement it. I would say that the peacekeeping divisions are integral part of such settlement. Therefore, I consider that the proposal will also be interesting for Azerbaijan and Georgia because this issue still remains actual for the region," Yushenko said.
The Foreign Minister of Armenia, Vardan Oskanyan, called the Russian President's proposal on joint use of the Russian-leased Azerbaijani Gabala Radar Station with the US as expected and interesting.
"Russian President, Vladimir Putin's statement did not surprise me, it was an expected and interesting proposal. It is part of a large policy and as regards to Armenia, there is no reason for anxiety from the point of view of security," Oskanyan said. The Armenian Foreign Minister said that Putin's proposal is considered by the USA not as an alternative, but as an addition to the program of establishment of missile-defense system in the Czech Republic and Poland. "If it is only in addition, it is very doubtful that Russia will take such a step," Oskanyan said, Novosti Armenia reports.
Moreover, he stressed that Armenia will study the problem. "We are holding consultations and wish to know more about what the proposal envisages," Oskanyan said.
Russian President Putin 'blew up' G8 with his proposal on the placement of missile defense elements at the Gabala Radar Station in Azerbaijan and the United States won back splendidly and very calmly - when put a finger in their mouth, they eat you hand. They agreed to be present in the Gabala RS, but at the same did not refuse from their plans of placing the missile defense system in East Europe. In terms of 'PR', they were actually victorious, according to the Director of the Russian Institute of Globalization Problems, Mikhael Delyagin .
Russia could prevent the US penetration in to the South Caucasus. "This is not the fact that we succeeded to retain Gabala RS in general, but we have to maintain it on parity basis with American [the United States] from 2012, when the leasing period ends. Nevertheless, the effect of the blow was repelled by Americans. The more probable variant is that even if Americans agree upon on the proposal on Gabala , they will continue plan on missile defense plans in Europe.
Gabala is radar station and there does not exist any anti-missile system. Should there antimissile is placed, it will have a dead zone for 1,000km. Gabala is located not far from Iran and there is a probability for launching Iranian missiles will be carried out in a distance of less than 1,000km. It is necessary to study the issue on geological mining terms and on the map, but such probability exits theoretically. The question is to what extent this area is proper, because it is mountainous zone. However, the launch can be carried out from the Caspian coast. So, from the military aspect the US position is invulnerable," Delyagin assures.
"Moreover, I don't believe Iran will be allowed to set up its system. I don't expect the United States to allow Iranian to produce nuclear bomb. However, the situation develops in the way, which promises that next year Iran will have nuclear bombs, and the testing will be carried out maximal cynicism in summer, on the eve of the elections in the United States. The testing will be on land to violate the agreement. The testing will occur under cameras of CNN so that to make a maximal psychological effect on the West. The logic of developments pushes Americans to make blows on Iran - one-day blows, but very painful. It will not destroy two naval bases, but the nuclear program will be put back for 5 years, the management system in Iran will damage and it will hardly think over missiles." The Russian political expert assured.
Delyagin assures that an agreement on Gabala have been in progress long ago and in mid-May the Russian Ambassador spoke about opportunities and desirability of allowing the United States to the Gabala RS. At present Russia acts on the following principle "if it is our base, the Americans will be against of it, but if a joint one then they will not object seriously'. "But it cannot be a statement by a country which considers having definite interests. Unfortunately, our [Russian] diplomacy behaves in this way," he stressed.
Delyagin thinks that in response to placement of US plans of placing missiles and radars in Poland and Czech republic, Russia could propose Ukrainian President Alexander Lukashenko to place in Belarus missile of small and medium distance, and these missiles will officially belong to Belarus. " Lukashenko will accept it will be a great pleasure, but is will to normalize its worse relations with Belarus. In don't think Lukashenko to reject Veshnyakov's candidature to the post of CIS Executive Secretary," he clarified.
The Azerbaijani Embassy to the United States reported that Yashar Aliyev, the Azerbaijani Ambassador to the United States, was elected the member of the Consultation Council of Ambassadors of the Executive Council of Diplomats which is one of the representative non-Governmental organizations of the USA.
The Consultation Council is an organization, which assists the ambassadors, accredited in the United States, in establishing relations with the senior officials of the Government and heads of private sector.
The Council will develop different programs for deeply studying the US system, receiving broad information on the role of Government and private sector in society and regulation of relations amongst foreign diplomats in informal conditions.
The Council brings together the ambassadors of Austria, Egypt, Morocco, Sweden, Russian and Brazil and other countries to the United States, as well as the heads of such companies as Procter
Political movements
Sardar Jalaloglu , the Chairman of the Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (DPA), has stated that the DPA will develop and submit a conception of proposals regarding a dialogue between the Authority and the opposition to the Azerbaijani Government for discussions on peacefully resolving the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.
The presidium of the party was held under the chairmanship of Jalaloglu on the 11th of June.
The social-political situation in the country, organizational issues, and the situation around the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were discussed at the presidium.
The presidium positively assessed a statement from the OSCE's chairman concerning the importance of dialogue between the authority and the opposition in Azerbaijan. During the presidium a new conception reflected the agreement of both sides, and has been considered.
The representatives of the DPA have decided to participate at the rally, protesting against the illegal arrests of journalists.
DPA has submitted its proposals in written form regarding a dialogue between the authority and opposition to the Azerbaijani Government.
The political parties of Azerbaijan comment differently on the Russian President's proposal on the joint use of the Russian-leased Azerbaijan Gabala Radar Station with the US.
The opposition Musavat Party considers that the optimal variant for Azerbaijan is to liquidate the Station. If talks begin on the joint use of the Gabala Radar Station with the US, Azerbaijan should join the talks as the owner of the Station. "This issue should be considered under conditions of ensuring the security of Azerbaijan, including ecological, political and other interests," Musavat Party states.
The Azerbaijan Democratic Party considers that if the USA accepts the proposal of Russia, it will not affect the situation with the external threats and the risk of reactors increasing within the Country.
"If an agreement is reached on the joint use of the Station, Azerbaijan should use it in favor of itself and as a historical chance to fairly resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijan should receive a guarantee from the leasing countries for providing the Station with the new technologies and ensuring the ecological and national interests of Azerbaijan," Azerbaijan Democratic Party states. If these conditions are not taken into consideration, the society of Azerbaijan should make an initiative to close the Station, the Party considers.
The Azerbaijan Democratic Reforms Party considers that the joint use of the Gabala Radar Station by two big countries fully corresponds to the interests of Azerbaijan and increases the strategic importance of the Country.
MP Ali Ahmadov, the Executive Secretor of the New Azerbaijan Party (NAP), stated on 11 June that the ruling NAP considered that the functioning Election Code of Azerbaijan creates a judicial base, which is necessary in holding democratic and fair elections in the country.
"There is necessity to introduce some technical changes. Most needed changes are due to technical problems that appeared in the election process. When developing such a large election document it is impossible to consider everything. There is no necessity, however, to introduce principle changes in the Legislation Code," Ahmadov added.
The Election Code cannot be changed every time before elections.
"Since 1998, we have had proposals to introduce changes in the Election Code every election. It seems that some people want to gain more votes," the MP considered.
The Azerbaijani Election Code creates equal conditions for all parties participating in the elections. Unsatisfying election results, however, do not create conditions to introduce changes in the Election Code and changes to the Election Commission
The Azerbaijani Unity Party appealed to President Ilham Aliyev. The appeal is in regards to compliance with regulations, in the Azerbaijani Constitution, that the price policy enters into the authority of the Ministers Cabinet. The Party considers that entrusting this field to the Tariff Council to be wrong.
The Tariff Council must be liquidated and the price-making authority should be returned to the Ministers Cabinet.
The appeal envisages discussion on correspondence benefits of the population with prices on energy.
The increase of energy prices by the Tariff Council caused discontent among an insufficiently-provided for population. The benefits of not sufficiently providing for the population do not correspond to the consumers' budget.
The Party also submitted other proposals to accelerate economic development in Azerbaijan.
The Party adhered to its opposition position from 2006.Presently, the Party headed by former MP Tahir Karimly, supports the political course of the Government
Ali Orujov , the press secretor of the Azerbaijani National Independent Party (ANIP), stated on the 12th of June that the project of agreement due to the consultative structure of Azerbaijani opposition parties has been developed.
ANIP, the Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (SDPA), the Terggy Party, the Open Society Party (OSP) of Azerbaijan, the Musavat Party and Eldar Namazov , the independent political scientists are holding joint negotiations on the creation of a new consultative structure of opposition.
The structure will be only for consultative character.
The information given that the structure will be some kind of Alliance in incorrect, as Alliance means union.
Six heads of the opposition parties will meet by the end of June in the head quarter of the SDPA.
The Justice Ministry of Azerbaijan considered the issue of the State Registration of Azerbaijan Open Society Party (OSP), said OSP Chairman, Akif Shahbazov.
Shahbazov said that after the documents were submitted to the Ministry, the representative of the party was invited to the Ministry. "The documents were initially considered and no serious shortfalls were discovered. According to the law, the Ministry should express its position on the registration of the party," Shahbazov said. The OSP was established in April. Rasul Guliyev, the former MP of the Azerbaijani Parliament is the head of the OSP.
The main problem of the Azerbaijani opposition is that five or six parties consider themselves a leading force, the leader of the Public Forum in the Name of Azerbaijan, politician Eldar Namazov , said on the 12th of June. He was commenting on the establishment of new organizations within the opposition.
The politician noted that the Consultative Council that is expected to be established was not intended against the other opposition blocs. Namazov voiced his attitude on the occasion that the bloc Azadlyg, will not join the new Consultative Council. "The purposes of the political blocs and consultative councils differ. Their activities and duties are also different. All positions of the parties that are members of the political blocs should coincide. They have to have a single fundament, as well as a single candidate. The parties with differing interests can hold a joint fight for a solution of common problems in a consultative organization. As to superiority, the notion of a leading force has lost its meaning within the opposition. There is no criterion defining which party is leading," Namazov said.
Namazov was the head of the Secretariat of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration from 1993-1999.
Akif Shahbazov, the Chairman of the Open Society Party (OSP) of Azerbaijan, stated on 12 June that the party agreed to sign a bilateral agreement with some of the opposition parties of Azerbaijan.
In spite of the achieved agreement, the signing of the bilateral agreement is not expected in near future.
"Our main aim is joining the opposition parties in more inclusive way, joint function for creating a democratic election atmosphere, and organization of a joint struggle. We consider that bilateral agreement will have no positive results," the Chairman noted.
The signing of the bilateral agreement had already been discussed with the Azerbaijani National Independence Party, the Musavat Party, the Azerbaijani Population Front Party, the Liberal Party of Azerbaijan, and with a broad range of non-Governmental organizations.
Janni Bukikkio, the General Secretary of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, informed in writing to the leaders of the Azadlyg bloc -Ali Karimli, the Chairman of the National Front Party of Azerbaijan, Lala Shovkat, the Head of the Azerbaijani National Unity Movement and Ali Aliyev, the Chairman of the Citizen and Development Party of Azerbaijan, that he had familiarized himself with the legislation of changes and supplements in the Election Code, developed by the Azadlyg bloc.
"A letter from the bloc has already been submitted to the Venice Commission's experts and allies in the OSCE. These proposals will be considered during discussions for changes and supplements in the Election Code," Bukikkio noted.
The Chairman of the Venice Commission informed that discussions for changes in the Election Code of Azerbaijan would be considered in 2007.
"The Venice Commission, OSCE and IFES will hold discussions for changes in the Election Code of Azerbaijan at the beginning of Autumn, 2007. Representatives of the Government will actively take part in discussions over this issue," the Chairman said.
Azadlyg bloc unites three opposition parties - the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, the Citizen and Development Party of Azerbaijan and the Movement of National Unity of Azerbaijan.
The initiative to elect a single candidate from opposition may bring to the collapse of the opposition camp, said the Chairman of opposition 'Our Azerbaijan' Political Bloc, Vugar Beyturan. He considers unsuccessful the proposal of MP Panah Huseyn to elect a single candidate from opposition for participation in 2008 presidential elections. Selecting such tactics will help collapse of the opposition camp, Beyturan said. In addition, he protests against participation in elections for traditional opposition.
"I think that the political leaders who have incurred bitterness of defeat should not put forward their candidatures. Presently the main fact is the co-operation of all political forces for democratic elections. The idea of single candidate meets the interests of only opposition," Beyturan said.
'Our Azerbaijan' Bloc brings together eight opposition parties.
A dialogue with opposition parties is necessary in any time and Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev, repeatedly stated that, a member of the Administration of the governing New Azerbaijan Party (NAP), the Deputy Speaker of the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani parliament), Bahar Muradova, said.
"The NAP has stated about that and made clear steps in this connection. Discussions between the parties can cover any issue. The NAP is always ready for dialogue and negotiations," Muradova added.
According to Muradova, there is a plenty of reasons for a dialogue between the authorities and the opposition has not take place yet. When the opposite side speaks on a dialogue it means satisfaction of its interests. For this reason the dialogue is impossible. "In my opinion, the subject of consideration can be any issue impeding activities of the parties or affecting socio-political life of the country, as well as a problem that needs demonstration of common positions of all parties. We are ready for discussion of any issue," she said.
A number of meetings mediated by the OSCE Baku Office had been held between the authorities and the opposition before the parliamentary elections of 2005. The meetings were fruitless and later suspended.
The documents adopted at the 9th congress of the Azerbaijan Democratic Party (ADP) have been submitted to the Ministry of Justice for repeated registration of the party.
A number of changes reflecting democratic principles (the authorities of the chairman, assembling of congresses in two years instead of five, and others) were made at the congress.
The ADP submitted the necessary documents to the Ministry of Justice in order to register the new charter.
The right-wing ADP was founded in 1991 by Sardar Jalaloghlu. The party was in opposition by January of 2007. In January, ADP changed its political course towards a direction of dialogue with the ruling party.
Nagorno-Karabakh
The Azerbaijani side highlights the importance of toughening up its position in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement.
The Chief of the Foreign Relations Department of the Executive Apparat of the Azerbaijan President, Novruz Mammadov, said on 11 June, commenting on the next meeting of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Saint-Petersburg, that in this case, Azerbaijan may use its leadership in the region.
According to Mammadov, the position will be toughened up both with regards to Azerbaijan and the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, and international organizations and the international community. They will be required to elaborate on their positions in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Mammadov said that the meeting of the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev and Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, lasted more than two hours. The meeting was hard. "Despite that Azerbaijan's rating is strengthening in the region, it was not enough that Armenia demonstrates constrictiveness in the talks," he said.
He stressed that Armenia did not agree with the conditions of the Prague process which envisages releasing the regions around Nagorno-Karabakh, de-mining them, returning internally displaced persons and placing peacekeeping forces. Mammadov said that several years after these conditions have been met then an agreement may be reached on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh.
According to Mammadov, there is a difference between the Government of Armenia and the self-declaring head of Nagorno-Karabakh. Exactly due to this, Armenia requires connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to the negotiations process, he added.
Mammadov stressed that the sides decided to continue the negotiations at the level of the Co-Chairs and Foreign Ministers. He did not comment on the future processes on the peaceful settlement of the conflict. According to Mammadov, if the international community does not express a concrete position and does not make a proposal, there may be an issue of military settlement of the conflict.
The Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov, said on 11 June in Baku that the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group asked for time to define the contours for future talks regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement.
According to the Minister, Azerbaijan and Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group are going to continue the negotiations on the conflict settlement. He voiced his hope that the Armenian side will also support the continuing peaceful process. A meeting took place between the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia on 9 June in Saint-Petersburg within informal summit of the CIS State Heads.
It has become evident from the lack of availability on any information about the recent talks between Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents that no success was achieved, Azerbaijan independent politician, Vafa Guluzadeh, stated on 11 June. He was commenting on the meeting between Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents, Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharyan, held in Saint-Petersburg.
According to the politician, the talks were another 'meeting for the sake of meeting'. The politician called irrelevant the claims on the lack of political will to resolve the conflict. "Politically speaking, does Azerbaijan have the will to surrender its lands to Armenia, and will Armenia disobey the Russian will to sign the peace agreement which is regarded as a disgrace for Azerbaijan?" Guluzadeh noted.
In his opinion, Armenians can not do that as Russia lingered the situation. "The United States is now engaged in other matters, such as the launching of Anti-Missile Defence in the northern direction. It does not care about Karabakh," Guluzadeh summed up.
According to an independent politician, Rasim Musabayov, the formulations provided by the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group on the eve of the meeting between the Presidents will require supplementary development at the level of Foreign Ministers of the two countries." As a matter of fact, if the formulations are intended only to smooth over the disagreements between the sides, then they are senseless. There is no place for play upon words. A definite solution must be found," Musabayov urged.
Elmar Mammadyarov, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, stated in St. Petersburg, Russia, that no breakthrough was achieved in the peace talks on the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict meeting between the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharian. The two Presidents discussed issues concerning the major principles of the conflict settlement, Maxmedia news agency reports.
In talks with journalists in St. Petersburg on the 10th of June Bartan Oskanian , the Armenian Foreign Minister, stressed that the head of states were proposed to discuss the issues which the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs had hoped them to achieve. At the same time the Armenian Minister noted they had serious and deep discussions.
Oskanian stated with regret, that no progress was achieved during the meeting of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in St. Petersburg, and there are still disagreements.
"Earlier, the Presidents informed mediators on the essence of talks," he clarified.
Oskanian said that the process will continue on the level of foreign ministers. At the same time he found it difficult to predict another meeting between Aliyev and Kocharian.
A meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in St. Petersburg on the 9th of June lasted three hours.
The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry announced on the 11th of June that the Armenian Armed Forces located near the northwest of the Kayan village of Ijevan District, Armenia, fired at the Azerbaijani positions located in the Bala Jafarli Village of Gazakh Distritc, Azerbaijan, from 01:30 to 01:40.
Azerbaijan returned fire. Over the past week the Armenian armed forces violated the ceasefire, and fired in the direction of Gazakh several times. No injuries were reported.
The consultative structure 'Roundtable on the Nagorno Karabakh Conflict' was established with the aim to hold periodical discussions in Baku regarding Nagorno-Karabakh.
Representatives of all opposition parties of Azerbaijan, non-governmental organizations, and intellectuals attending the Karabakh forum, held on 13 June, came to this conclusion.
During the forum, different proposals to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were put forward. In order to continue discussions on the issue, the 'Roundtable of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict' was created, and due to the initiative of nine social organizations, the forum will be held regularly.
A document was adopted after considering all proposals, at the end of forum
Social-political forces in Azerbaijan consider it necessary to announce a state of military emergency to suspend peace negotiations for resolving the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh and liberate Azerbaijani occupied territories.
This statement was declared during the Karabakh forum with participation of Azerbaijani opposition parties, Non Government Organizations and representatives of intelligence, held in Baku on 13 June.
MP Panah Husein noted that the Azerbaijani Government must restore its territorial integrity, through the Armed Forces. During the state of military emergency all political parties must suspend their function.
Isa Gambar, the head of the Musavat Party, stated that opposition and pro-Government parties of Azerbaijan have signed a commitment not to use the Nagorno-Karabakh issue to their own interests in 1997.
Currently, this document is still in force. Gambar considers that peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan will have no positive results.
Ali Karimli, the Chairman of the Azerbaijani Population Front Party, considered the proposals of the Co-Chairmen of the Minsk group of the OSCE, that the Nagorno -Karabakh must determine its 'destiny', as an insult. According to Karimli, Azerbaijan must not discuss the issue of holding a referendum.
Avaz Tamirkhan, the Deputy Chairman of the Liberal party, noted that if status is granted to Armenians in Karabakh then Irevan-Zangezur Autonomous region must be established and peace negotiations must be based on this principle.
MP Gudrat Hasanguliyev, the Chairman of United Azerbaijan, stated that a definite date must be scheduled for Armenians and mediators, at the end of which Azerbaijan would take necessary action to liberate the occupied territories.
Etibar Mammadov, the Head of the Azerbaijani National Independent Party (ANIP), considers that the main principles of the Nagorno-Karabakh negotiations must be put before the Government as a necessary condition. Nobody could compel Azerbaijan to reconcile the occupation while Azerbaijan has oil. According to Mammadov, Azerbaijan must not depend upon Russia and the United States, but must demand its national interests.
MP Ilyas Ismailov, the Chairman of the Adalat Party of Azerbaijan, stated that the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan would not be gained by any international organization and foreign country.
At the end of the forum the sides will adopt a general document
The Head of the Foreign Relations Department of the Executive Apparat of Azerbaijan President, Novruz Mammadov , briefed the media on the 13th of June that the next meeting of the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev and Armenia, Robert Kocharyan , with regards to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement may take place in autumn. According to N.Mammadov , after the meeting of the Presidents in Saint-Petersburg, the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group continue to attend to their activities.
"In the near future, the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia will take place," Mammadov added.
The ninth meeting of the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev and Armenia, Robert Kocharyan , took place on the 9th of June within the formal summit of the CIS State Heads.
On the 13th of June the field assistants of the OSCE Chairman in Office's special representative Andzey Kasprzyk monitored the line of contact of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops in Azerbaijan's Fizuli district. Thus, the participants of the monitoring met with the Head of Fizuli Executive Power, Naby Mukhtarov was interested in the reasons behind the violation of the ceasefire regime by the Armenian Armed Forces.
Mukhtarov stated that the Armenian Armed Forces periodically fired upon villages and upon the Azerbaijan National Army. Due to this, there has been an affect on the production of agriculture.
Magdalena Fritcheva, the International Crisis Group Caucasus Project Director, stated on 13 June that it is too difficult to expect a breakthrough in the resolution of the [Armenian-Azerbaijani] Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the near future.
Fritcheva noted that the continuation of the dialogue is a positive step and it is very important to hold it at every level. She was commenting on the recent meeting between the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharian, in St. Petersburg.
Fritcheva announced that in July the ICG will present its third report on Nagorno-Karabakh, the new report will cover new developments since the publication of the last report by ICG in 2005, estimating the situation in the negotiations. The report will consider the tendencies and dynamics of developments in both communities.
With respect to POWs from both the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides, the ICG representative said that media reports from these sides actually pursue political agendas.
Soldier of the National Army of Azerbaijan was wounded as a result of a violation of a ceasefire agreement by the Armenian Armed Forces in the line of contact of troops in the direction of Azerbaijan's Tartar district. Born in 1988, the soldier Tahmasib Bashirov received a bullet wound to his arm. The soldier was taken to the military hospital. According to the information provided by the hospital, the soldier's condition is satisfactory. The Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan confirmed the information.
On 14 June at 23:00, the Armenian Armed Forces committed arson in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan's Agdam district. The fires did not pass to the villages, Trend Regional Correspondent reports. According to the information provided by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, monitoring is held in the line of contact of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops and the amount of damage inflicted to the environment.
Agdam is located 400 km west of Baku.
The Foreign Minister of Armenia, Vardan Oskanyan, stated in an interview with Kentron TV that a three-page document which includes key principles of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement is being discussed in negotiations on the conflict settlement.
"Currently a three-page document which includes all possible principles of the conflict settlement is under discussion. It is quite a complicated document and results from the two-year negotiation process at the level of the Foreign Ministers and Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia," Oskanyan said.
The minister considers that the comparative analysis of the coordinated and uncoordinated issue give grounds to suppose that this document will be possible to implement.
"Based on the document, I have certain optimism that it is possible to expect some progress from the discussions at the level of Presidents. It is a logical and compromise document although it does not fully satisfy the requirements of the sides, but gives something to the sides according to which it is possible to present the document to their people," Oskanyan said.
In addition, he stressed that irrespective of progress, there are yet uncoordinated issues and the sides should resolve the most difficult problems. Oskanyan spelt out that the document under discussion envisages "pack approach", Novosti-Armenia reports.
"Temporary alternate is possible there, but the responses to all questions should be provided beforehand," he stressed.
The Armenian Foreign Minister considers it impossible to speak of other problems without response to the questions regarding the self-appointment right of Nagorno-Karabakh inhabitants, existence of a corridor ensuring uninterrupted land links between Karabakh and Armenia, as well as a solution of all problems regarding the security of Nagorno-Karabakh inhabitants
EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Peter Semneby, said at a news conference in Yerevan that the EU is disappointed over the fact that the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents failed to come to an agreement at their recent meeting in Saint-Petersburg, PanARMENIAN reports.
"However, we are hopeful that the sides will concentrate during the coming months and a mutual compromise will be achieved before Armenian and Azerbaijani presidential election. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has lasted for a long time already and a whole generation unaware of the conflict has grown in both countries. Protraction of this situation is pregnant with complications up to hostilities. The EU is ready to rebuild trust between the states, which was lost during 15 years," Mr Semneby said.
At that the EU Envoy thinks that the situation has not reached a deadlock, as the negotiations are not stopped.
Touching upon the involvement of Nagorno-Karabakh in the negotiations process, the EU Envoy said that presently it is not important. According to him, by the time Armenia and Azerbaijan come to an agreement the presence of Karabakh's representatives will be necessary.