January 20, 2004 - 19:28 AMT
AZERI LEADER FOR CONTINUING DIALOGUE OVER KARABAKH SETTLEMENT WITH ARMENIAN PRESIDENT
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev considers it necessary to continue direct dialogue over settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict with the Armenian leader, he stated in Baku today, laying down a condition that the OSCE Minsk Group (MG) will not assume the role of "exterior observer." Aliyev stated that the MG co-chairs have to make new proposals over the Karabakh problem settlement. He expressed opinion that the MG activities were "unsuccessful" recently, noting that the Azeri society "pins much hope on the international mediators." "We do not want war or new victims," I. Aliyev said. He said he was sure that "Azerbaijan will attain a political settlement of the problem, strengthening its economic and military potential." "If this does not happen, we do not intend to put up with the situation formed," he said. "Azerbaijan without fail has a right to liberate its territories at any time and by every means," I. Aliyev stated. At that he noted that one could think of non-political versions of settlement of the Karabakh conflict only when Baku "is absolutely sure that peaceful settlement opportunities have been exhausted."