AZERI MFA «DENIES» REPORTS ON REFERENDUM IN KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net - Reports that a peace treaty over settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict that provides for arranging a referendum on the status of Karabakh are false, Head of the Department of Print and Information Policy of the Azeri MFA Tahir Tagizade stated, reported Turan news agency. He noted that at the current stage of the talks within the Prague process 7-9 elements are discussed. These are «withdrawal of occupant troops, return of displaced persons, restoration of communications, establishment of confidence measures and others.» All the rest of the issues, including the NK status, are subject to discussion at the following stages, Tagizade remarked. At that he underscored that the stand of the Azeri MFA is unchangeable: the conflict can be settled on the basis of «territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.» As of holding a referendum on the NK status, «the issue may be discussed only after the return of all Azeris to their permanent residence locations.» Expressing attitude towards the reports on the possible signing of a peace treaty in 2005 or 2006, Tagizade said that speaking of any date of signing is premature, as work over its text has not started yet.