Baku, June 23, AZERTAC

"The Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents' meeting in St. Petersburg can be considered different from the previous ones. This meeting was more constructive from the viewpoint of approach to all issues which demonstrated the sides' interest in resolving the conflict," said deputy head of the Azerbaijani presidential administration, chief of the administration's foreign relations department Novruz Mammadov.

Novruz Mammadov said that Armenia's provocation on the line of contact between the Azerbaijani and Armenian troops in April this year and the Azerbaijani armed forces' decent response to this was in fact a message to the parties concerned – both OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs and the whole world. “The message was that failure to resolve the conflict so far, its remaining unchangeable and in a certain sense its being considered frozen is a very dangerous position. And it revealed the need to resolve the conflict. All these issues also had an impact on the intensification of negotiations and organization of meetings with the heads of state and officials of both countries. According to the agreement, the meeting which was organized by Russia was more appropriate. The negotiations at the meeting give us ground to say that Russian President Vladimir Putin is more resolute to settle the conflict.”

Novruz Mammadov said that broad discussions were held to find ways of resolve the dispute. “The sides particularly exchanged views on such issues as reducing tension on the line of contact, ensuring a high level security and conducting a more comprehensive monitoring.”

Novruz Mammadov hailed the role of President Ilham Aliyev`s policy in the intensification of talks and achievement of certain agreements at such meetings. "At all his meetings the head of state underlines that the status quo cannot continue and steps must be taken to resolve the conflict," Mr. Mammadov said.

"The results of this meeting is the reaction of the world community, the co-chair countries and international organizations who approved the Azerbaijani President's stance which he voiced in his speeches at all meetings, high-level forums, conferences and summits. The head of state has always noted that sooner or later this conflict must be resolved within the norms and principles of international law, the Armenian armed forces must leave the occupied Azerbaijani territories, Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced persons must return to their native lands," Novruz Mammadov said.

He noted that in St. Petersburg the sides agreed to continue regular meetings in this format. "And here too much depends on what steps the Armenian side will take," Mr. Mammadov added.