Azerbaijani FA Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said after the meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents.

Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia made a statement after the Presidents of two countries had met in Zurich, Switzerland to discuss peaceful regulation of Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Daqliq Qarabaq.

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Daqliq Qarabaq began in 1988 as the result of territorial claims by Armenia against Azerbaijan. Between 1988 – 1994, Armenia occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani lands including the Daqliq Qarabaq and its seven neighboring regions. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement.

Elmar Mammadyarov, FA Minister of Azerbaijan, said that the negotiations were held within the principle of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. ACcording to him, the sides discussed both already existing principles and principles being worked out.

"There are several unsolved points in basic principles. Each President expressed his opinion on these points. It is a difficult process and we don't have any other option for the regulation of the conflict than making a step forward," Mammadyarov stated.

Armenian FA Minister Edward Nalbandian said that sides understand each-other better as meetings on the settlement of the conflict are held regularly. "Both Presidents stated certain dynamics in regulation of Daqliq Qarabaq conflict from the point of view of regular talks. The sides get to understand each-other better from meeting to meeting. Now, are focus on working out the basic principles of regulation of the conflict. The sides will begin working on basis documents after those principles are agreed," said Nalbandian.

OSCE Minsk Group US and French co-chairs Matthew Bryza and Bernard Fassier also expressed their satisfaction with the negotiations held.

In 1992, Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE, now Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)) established Minsk Group, co-chaired by Russia, France and the US, to encourage a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the conflict.

Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan and Edward Nalbandian, President of Armenia, met in Zurich, Switzerland on January 28. Private meeting of presidents was followed with a broad meeting with participation of OSCE MG co-chairs. The talks were focused on current situation in the regulation process as well as future perspectives of the process.

The two presidents met twice in Saint Petersburg and Moscow earlier.
/ANS TV/