Parliamentarians from South Caucasus republics were locked in talks in Scotland today to try to resolve a decade-long regional conflict. Delegations of MPs from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia arrived in Moray in the Highlands last night for two days of negotiations. The politicians visited the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh before their discussions, taking place in the Speyside village of Craigellachie, and focusing on a feud over the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. The meeting was taking place in the wake of elections which have been held in all three countries this year, culminating in the Georgian elections last month after which President Eduard Shevardnadze resigned amid claims they had been rigged. The South Caucasus are still beset with a regional conflict and face political, economic and environmental challenges. However it is hoped the meeting in Scotland will provide a rare opportunity to address the issues in a regional framework.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have been warring over the enclave after ethnic Armenians declared their independence from Azerbaijani rule. Thousands of people were killed and a million fled their homes during the conflict. A ceasefire was signed in 1994, but the two countries remain opposed. The meeting was providing the first bilateral discussion between the Parliaments of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the conflict around Nagorno-Karabakh. The talks were being held in the Moray constituency of SNP MP Angus Robertson, who is also chairman of the House of Commons South Caucasus All Party Parliamentary Group
