Bush urges Aliyev and Kocharian to boost peace efforts

US President George Bush received Azeri and Armenian presidents at the White House Monday and called upon them to give the peace process a much needed boost and try to overcome the difficulties in Garabagh negotiations. He commended the progress Presidents Aliyev and Kocharian attained in Key West, Florida, describing the talks as very successful.

A senior Bush Administration official told journalists that both meetings were «extremely warm in tone».

In the Whie House Oval Office, George Bush met with Kocharian and Aliyev separately, accompanied by vice-president Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Colin Powell, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, and ambassador Carey Cavanaugh, one of the three co-chairs of the Key West talks.

At the beginning of his meeting with Aliyev, President Bush passed on greetings from George Bush Sr., America's 41st president.

President Aliyev told a news conference after the meeting that he was very satisfied with the meeting. He said the two had focused on bilateral relations, production and transportation of Caspian hydrocarbons and, of course, ways of solution to the Garabagh conflict.

"I also brought up the unfair Section 907 issue, which impedes US assistance to Azerbaijan", he added.

The White House briefer said President Bush emphasized the support of the United States for Armenia's democratic and free market transformation.

They also discussed the historical friendship between American and Armenian peoples and the future of the region, which will be greatly brightened by peace and open door to investment.

Mr. Cavanaugh has described the White House meetings as "continuation of successful negotiations in Key West".

The Key West talks were not particularly smooth since the very beginning, as Secretary of State Powell left for Washington D.C. on the second day of the negotiations. He announced on his way that he could rejoin the two presidents if necessary.

President Aliyev’s critical remarks concerning the history of the conflict and the peace process in general drew fire from Kocharian. Unable to counter-balance serious arguments put forward by Aliyev, Kocharian said indignantly, «I didn’t come here to engage in propaganda». The Armenian President took a tough stance and has reportedly announced that Armenia is not going to "surrender" lands and is ready to fight.

Only on the 4th day of the talks, on April 6, did the two presidents get together again since their opening meeting with Colin Powell.

New peace plan

As a result of the 5-day intense Key West negotiations, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs launched work on new comprehensive proposals to address the problems and needs voiced by Azeri and Armenian Presidents. A communique was adopted in the wake of the talks.

The essence of the proposal is not being elaborated, but diplomatic sources say it is based on mutual compromises.

Addressing a news briefing after the negotiations, US under secretary of state Phillip Ricker and US Minsk Group co-chair Carey Cavanaugh gave a positive assessment to the negotiations.

"We achieved more progress than we had expected", they said.

Mr. Cavanaugh emphasized the desire of both presidents to adhere to and enforce the cease-fire regime.

With regard to the continuation of the talks in a new format, Mr. Cavanaugh said the next round would be held in Geneva in June.

Swiss Foreign Minister is currently in Washington to make preparations for hosting the Geneva talks.