December 7, 2002 - 20:00 AMT
AZERBAIJAN TURNS DOWN INTERNATIONAL MEDIATORS PROPOSALS ON KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
The OSCE Minsk group co-chairs, who display much flexibility in the process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, did not receive any support from Azerbaijan. As reported by "Mediamax" agency, Armenian foreign minister Vardan Oskanian stated it addressing the summit of foreign ministers of the OSCE member countries in Porto yesterday. In his words, "Azerbaijan turns down any initiatives of international organizations in an ungrateful and scandalous manner, if they do not fit Baku's maximalist rhetoric. Vardan Oskanian expressed hope for "a comprehensive project of peace agreement" to be achieved after the Armenian and Azeri peoples have expressed their will at the presidential elections next year. Today, when Azerbaijan makes aggressive and militant statements, declines agreements hardly achieved at the negotiations and practices economic blackmail of Armenia for its support of the Nagorno Karabakh people, Yerevan abides by the OSCE core values, Armenian foreign minister stated.