Meetings between Azerbaijani officials and representatives of the ethnic Armenian population in Karabakh have begun. An official from the Russian Peace Force was also present at the meeting.
A meeting has begun between Azerbaijani officials and representatives of the ethnic Armenian population in Karabakh, where the integration process will be discussed.
The meeting is being held in the governor’s office building in the city of Yevlah, located close to Karabakh.
Deputy Ramin Mammedov, President Ilham Aliyev’s representative responsible for contacts with Armenians in Karabakh, and David Melkumyan and Sergey Martirosyan, representing Karabakh Armenians, are participating in the negotiations on behalf of Azerbaijan. An official from the Russian Peace Force was also present at the meeting.
The meeting is followed by many foreign journalists as well as the Azerbaijani and Turkish press.
The main agenda of the meeting is the integration of the region into Azerbaijan.
On September 19, the Azerbaijani army launched an attack under the name «anti-terrorist operation» in the region, which is officially under Azerbaijan but is de facto governed by Armenian forces and where Armenians live.
Azerbaijan had broken through the defense lines and captured a number of dominant hills and strategic junctions. Karabakh Armenians had announced that, in this situation, they had no choice but to accept a ceasefire as of 13:00 yesterday, with the mediation of the Russian peacekeeping force in the region.
Azerbaijan invited representatives of the ethnic Armenian population to the city of Yevlah to discuss integration issues. (AA)