Semneby meets Azerbaijani refugees, oppositionists and authorities in Baku

The situation around Karabakh settlement and the parliamentary elections forthcoming on November 7 in Azerbaijan were the main topics during the meetings held by Peter Semneby, EU's Special Representative for Southern Caucasus, during his visit to Baku on September 5-7.

Mr Semneby was received by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev, head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Elmar Mamedyarov, and met activists of political parties, civil society and mass media of Azerbaijan.

In particular, as reported by the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Mr Mamedyarov informed Mr Semneby about the state of affairs at negotiations on Karabakh settlement. Besides, they discussed the safety issues of Southern Caucasus as a whole.

Touching on the Azerbaijan-EU relations, the parties have noted intensification of bilateral relations, having emphasized special importance of the EU programme "Eastern Partnership".

The Karabakh topic was the key one at Peter Semneby's meeting with the leaders of the public association "Azerbaijani Community of the Nagorno-Karabakh District of the Republic of Azerbaijan".

Mr Semneby asked about the attitude of the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh to the negotiation process under the OSCE Minsk Group.

In his opinion, two main points should be taken into account at settling the conflict: "They are ensuring the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and return of forced migrants to their home places." He expressed confidence that restoration of the ties that had existed between the two nations will contribute to conflict-settling.

In his turn, Bairam Safarov, leader of the "Azerbaijani Community of the Nagorno-Karabakh District of the Republic of Azerbaijan" and head of the executive authority of the Shusha District, has stated: "Forced migrants are anticipating their return to native places. We are ready to live jointly, as before, with the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh who observe the laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan."