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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'Good progress' in Karabakh talks | 'Good progress' in Karabakh talks |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Azeri and Armenian leaders have made significant progress in talks on the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, a French mediator has said. | Azeri and Armenian leaders have made significant progress in talks on the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, a French mediator has said. |
| But Bernard Fassier, of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, said "some difficulties" had been identified. | |
| A fragile ceasefire has been in place in the region since a brutal war there in the 1990s. | A fragile ceasefire has been in place in the region since a brutal war there in the 1990s. |
| Both nations lay claim to the enclave, currently under Armenian control. | Both nations lay claim to the enclave, currently under Armenian control. |
| Earlier Azeri President Ilham Aliyev warned he could use force to seize the enclave if the talks failed. | Earlier Azeri President Ilham Aliyev warned he could use force to seize the enclave if the talks failed. |
| He said the talks, in Munich, Germany, were the final hope of settling the issue peacefully. | He said the talks, in Munich, Germany, were the final hope of settling the issue peacefully. |
| Military threat | Military threat |
| Mr Fassier said he and fellow mediators would prepare a new meeting, but gave no indication of when it might take place. | Mr Fassier said he and fellow mediators would prepare a new meeting, but gave no indication of when it might take place. |
| "The discussion [led] the presidents and us to identify problems that still have to be resolved," he said. | "The discussion [led] the presidents and us to identify problems that still have to be resolved," he said. |
| "But what is important, that we have been instructed to resolve these problems." | "But what is important, that we have been instructed to resolve these problems." |
| US mediator Robert Bradtke said he was impressed by the political will to seek a settlement. | US mediator Robert Bradtke said he was impressed by the political will to seek a settlement. |
| "I think today what was impressive was the way the two presidents worked with us, ... their willingness to discuss points that are quite difficult and quite controversial and I think, as someone who is relatively new to this process, that is what impressed me the most," he said. | "I think today what was impressive was the way the two presidents worked with us, ... their willingness to discuss points that are quite difficult and quite controversial and I think, as someone who is relatively new to this process, that is what impressed me the most," he said. |
| President Aliyev and his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisyan left the talks without making any comment. | President Aliyev and his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisyan left the talks without making any comment. |
| But in remarks broadcast on Azeri TV on Saturday, Mr Aliyev said that if the Munich talks failed to reach agreement he would be "left with no other option". | But in remarks broadcast on Azeri TV on Saturday, Mr Aliyev said that if the Munich talks failed to reach agreement he would be "left with no other option". |
| "We have the full right to liberate our land by military means," he said. | "We have the full right to liberate our land by military means," he said. |
| Some 30,000 people died in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, which erupted after the mountainous region declared independence in 1991. | Some 30,000 people died in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, which erupted after the mountainous region declared independence in 1991. |
| The region and seven surrounding Azeri district have been under Armenian control since the Russian-brokered ceasefire in 1994. | The region and seven surrounding Azeri district have been under Armenian control since the Russian-brokered ceasefire in 1994. |
| Azerbaijan has never ruled out military action to take back the land and has spent billions on dollars on building up its military. | Azerbaijan has never ruled out military action to take back the land and has spent billions on dollars on building up its military. |
| The meeting was the first since Armenia and Turkey - an ally of Azerbaijan - normalised diplomatic relations after a century of hostility. | The meeting was the first since Armenia and Turkey - an ally of Azerbaijan - normalised diplomatic relations after a century of hostility. |
| That move has left Azerbaijan feeling isolated, says the BBC's Tom Esslemont, in the South Caucasus region. | That move has left Azerbaijan feeling isolated, says the BBC's Tom Esslemont, in the South Caucasus region. |