May 13, 2005 - 09:51 AMT
TALVITIE: KARABAKH PROBLEM SETTLEMENT PARTLY DEPENDS ON TURKEY-ARMENIA NEGOTIATIONS
During a press conference held upon completion of his visit to Azerbaijan EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Heikki Talvitie stated that the negotiations mainly focused at the prospects of the Karabakh settlement, the upcoming parliamentary elections and the Armenian-Turkish relations. As regards the Karabakh settlement he said that the negotiation agenda of the Armenian and Azeri Foreign Ministers has already been exhausted and they need a "new mandate". Mr. Talvitie expressed hope that the meeting of the Armenian and Azeri Presidents will provide the Ministers with it. The discussion of the Armenian-Turkish relations in Baku he conditioned by the influence of the issue upon the Karabakh settlement. Heikki Talvitie reminded that Ankara refuses to open the border with Armenia until the Karabakh conflict is settled. According to Mr. Talvitie, the conflict resolution partly depends on the Armenia-Turkey negotiations.