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Talks on Nagorno-Karabakh between Armenia and Azerbaijan go on amidst threats
23/11/2009
Azeri president says his country is ready to take back Nagorno-Karabakh by force if an agreement is not reached soon · Armenia replies it could officially recognize the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh, while the OSCE, which mediates in the conflict, confirms progress in negotiations after the last round of talks.
The Nagorno-Karabakh question remains a key issue in the agenda of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and both Armenia and Azerbaijan. The three parties met again last Sunday to speed up progress towards a peaceful settlement for Nagorno-Karabakh. According to Euronews, spokesmen for the OSCE, the international organization responsible for the mediation between the two countries, were hopeful and “impressed” after the meeting by the willingness to find a solution and discuss controversial points that the two presidents showed.
The OSCE summed up the meeting in a press release issued yesterday. The document says the talks were “constructive” and that “progress was made” in some areas, but admits “at the same time that some issues remain open”. Next meeting with the two foreign ministers will take place on December 1-2 in Athens.
Exchange of threats
Sunday talks were held under controversy, as president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev had said a day before that without a breakthrough soon, his country could solve the conflict by occupying Nagorno-Karabakh by force.
Armenian leader Serge Sarkisian refused to comment on the talks held on Sunday, but replied to Aliev’s threats stating that if Baku ever attacks Nagogorno-Karabakh, Erevan will officially recognize the territory as an independent state. He further added that Armenia has not done so as for yet –Nagorno-Karabakh is an Armenian-populated area within Azeri borders– because it didn’t want it to become an obstacle to peaceful negotiation.
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