By empty (11/10/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov said that the location of NATO peacekeepers in the zone of the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict would be premature. \"When we are talking about peacekeeping missions, we should primarily discuss the mandate of these missions. But we have not even started developing it,\" Mamedyarov told the press.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov said that the location of NATO peacekeepers in the zone of the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict would be premature. \"When we are talking about peacekeeping missions, we should primarily discuss the mandate of these missions. But we have not even started developing it,\" Mamedyarov told the press. NATO envoy in the South Caucasus Romualds Razuks earlier said in Yerevan that NATO would be prepared to locate a peacekeeping contingent in the South Caucasus, if required. \"Azerbaijan, Armenia and the co-chairmen of the Minsk Group understand that peacekeeping forces must not represent the countries co- chairing the Minsk Group or neighboring states. If a peacekeeping mission is opted for, it must be performed within the framework of the Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe,\" the Azeri foreign minister said. Azerbaijan\'s position on the location of foreign military contingent is absolutely clear, Mamedyarov said. \"We are not in favor of foreign military presence in Azerbaijan. The law bans the location of foreign military base in our country,\" he said. (Interfax)