March 8, 2002 - 18:29 AMT
HEYDAR ALIYEV STATED HE REMAINS FOLLOWER OF KARABAKH PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT WITHIN OSCE MINSK GROUP FRAMEWORK
Establishment of cease-fire regime and its maintenance within 8 years is a «great event» for Azerbaijan and Armenia. Azeri President Heydar Aliyev stated it in the course of his meeting with OSCE Chairman-in-Office Jaime Gama. In Aliyev's words, within the last 10 years the OSCE Minsk Group mediators have made much efforts to settle Karabakh conflict, but the problem is not solved yet. «At the same time we understand that the question is extremely complicated,» - the Azeri President said. He confirmed his adherence to the conflict peaceful settlement and expressed his opinion that the Minsk Group and its Co-Chairs could still play a positive role in Karabakh settlement. Aliyev called Gama to use every opportunity available to OSCE to attain resolution of the conflict in 2002.