From the meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia presided by the USA Secretary of State Madeleine Albright - April 25, 1999

Madeleine Albright: I cordially greet the presidents of the Southern Caucasian republics which have started independent development, and I declare that their development depends on peace and stability in the region.

I declare that the world community pays great attention to the Southern Caucasus and expresses anxiety about the current condition of the Armenian-Azerbaijani, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Talking about the work done by the Minsk Group of OSCE and its co-chairs for the peaceful settlement of the conflict, I want to emphasize that our country is interested in peace and stability in this region.

Eduard Shevardnadze: Mrs. Albright, I thank you for organizing the meeting of the Caucasian leaders and I greet the participants of the meeting. The cooperation of the Caucasian peoples and countries which have indestructible historical ties is very important. I want to mention the Georgian-Azerbaijani friendship relations and their cooperation within "For the Peaceful Caucasus" initiative. Big economic projects in the region are of utmost importance. I highly appreciate the cooperation in oil and gas pipelines, restoration of the Great Silk Road, joint exploitation of the Transcaucasian route within TRACECA programme.

Rapid and peaceful settlement of the conflict is very important for stability, peace and cooperation in the region. I attach great importance to the current meeting of the Southern Caucasian leaders presided by Mrs. Albright. Considering such meetings extremely helpful and thinking that it is necessary continue them, Isuggest the next meeting to be held in Georgia.

Heydar Aliyev: I express my thanks to you for organizing the meeting of the Caucasian leaders and for the great attention and interest of the USA to the problems of our region, and I hope that such meetings will be continued in future.

Independent Azerbaijan has made great progress in the democratization of the socio-political life and building market economy.

I remind that energy resources of the Caspian Sea are being used for the welfare of our people. With great pleasure I inform the participants that the oil produced on the contract signed on the exploitation of Baku-Novorossiysk and Baku-Supsa pipelines has been delivered to the world market.

I want to mention that the projects on the development of energy resources of the Caspian Sea, the conference held in Baku on September 18 on the restoration of the Great Silk Road and its important resolutions, have cretaed great potentials for the development of the Transcaucasian route and close integration of Azerbaijan to the world community.

The Armenian-Azerbaijani, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict which impedes the development of Azerbaijan, is going on over ten years, and there is a ceasefire for five years.

The rapid solution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is of great importance for the development of Azerbaijan. I make a special emphasis on the solution of the conflict, restoration of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, liberation of the territories occupied by the Armenian armored forces and return of over million refugees home.

It is very necessary to make the Minsk process of OSCE and its efforts more active for settling the conflict and establishing peace in the Southern Caucasian region.

Three years ago together with the president of Georgia Eduard Shevardnadze we signed a declaration of "Peace, security and cooperation in the Caucasus". It is very important to ensure peace and security in the region, and I want other countries to join this initiative. It is our wish and we intend to realize it.

Robert Kocharyan: I express my thanks to Mrs. Albright as well, for organizing the meeting of the Caucasian leaders and greet the participants of the meeting. I want to mention that I support the solution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the Minsk Group of OSCE.

Hubert Védrine (French minister for foreign affairs): Greeting the participants of the meeting I bring it to your notice that it is important to increase the efforts for the peaceful settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. I think that the Minsk Group supports the principles of territorial integrity and inviolability of borders, it is necessary to strengthen its activity in this direction.

Knut Vollebæk (Norwegian foreign minister, current chairman of the OSCE): I think that the solution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict within the Minsk Group of OSCE and the maintenance of the ceasefire are the main factors, and this conflict is not in favor of any country. I highly appreciate the ceasefire and mention that it is necessary to settle the conflict as soon as possible.

Robin Cook (secretary of state for foreign and commonwealth affairs of Great Britain): I inform you that the cooperation of the world community with the countries of the region has great perspectives. I express my anxiety connected with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the region which hasn't been settled yet.

Joschka Fischer (foreign minister of Germany): The Southern Caucasian region occupies an important political and economic position between Asia and Europe, and the region needs peace and stability for its progress.

I declare that the European Union is ready to help to the settlement of the conflict and supports the ceasefire, but at the same time I think that it is necessary to achieve the peaceful settlement of the conflict once and for ever.

Ismail Cem (Turkish minister of foreign affairs): I emphasize that peace and stability are very important for the Caucasus and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict needs immediate peaceful settlement, and I think that all means should be used for this.

Madeleine Albright: Concluding the meeting, I express my thanks to the participants and draw the attention of the world community and OSCE to intensify their efforts for the peaceful settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.