AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER: I THINK THE PEOPLES ARE PREPARED FOR PEACE

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 5 2007

The negotiations to be held between OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs who
are visiting Baku and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov will be on preparation for the Presidents’
planned meeting in St.Petersburg, APA reports.

Mr.Mammadyarov said that there remain several serious issues that
have not been agreed during the negotiations.

"We will debate on these issues and try to agree on these issues for
the Presidents’ meeting in St.Petersburg," he said.

He also said that the mediators’ latest visit also aimed to prepare for
the Presidents’ [Azerbaijani and Armenian] meeting in St.Petersburg.

The Foreign Minster replying to the question on what issues will
be debated at the Presidents’ meeting, said that it depends on the
Presidents.

"If agreement is not achieved on any of the principles, all the
principles will be considered open. There is a difference of opinion
between Azerbaijan and Armenia on several principles," he said.

Azerbaijani Minister touching on the issue regarding the status
of Nagorno Karabakh stated that Armenian forces should withdraw
from all Azerbaijani territories, including Nagorno Karabakh,
peacekeepers should be deployed in the area, internally displaced
persons should be brought back to their lands, infrastructure should
be restored, and only after that the status of Nagorno Karabakh should
be considered. The Minister said that the determination of the status
is the theme of negotiations.

"First of all, referendum on the status of Nagorno Karabakh should
be held in the whole country according to Azerbaijani Constitution.

Therefore, holding referendum in Nagorno Karabakh only is
unacceptable. Azerbaijani Constitution has to be amended to conduct
a referendum only in Nagorno Karabakh for status and it should also
be solved through referendum," the Minister said.

Azerbaijani FM speaking about the talks held with OSCE
Chairman-in-Office, Spain’s Foreign Minister Miguel Anhel Moratinos
touched on Mr.Moratinos’s statement which said the Presidents’
upcoming meeting may turn out indecisive.

"However, I believe that every meeting of the Presidents is a step
forward," Azerbaijani FM said.

The Minister also stated that the Foreign Ministers [Azerbaijan and
Armenia] will meet after the meeting of the Presidents.

"The main thing is to achieve an agreement and liberate our lands. I
think that the peoples are already prepared for peace. Armenian
leaders have realized that such situation have no future. Political
will is needed," he underscored.