Karabakh People’s Will Should Be Central In Negotiations

Azg/am
29 Oct 04

Bruce Jackson, president of the US Committee on NATO, visited Artsakh
within the frameworks of German Marshal Foundation.

After finishing the official part of the visit, Jackson had a 15
minute-long meeting with journalist. Noting that their delegation
includes influential politicians and representatives of worldÃ¢~@~Ys
leading mass media, Jackson said that the aim of their visit was
to stress the importance of the region and to show their desire for
peace here.

Bruce Jackson said that the delegation has already been to Baku and
Yerevan and that they will leave for Tbilisi and the Pankis gorge
from Stepanakert. He refrained commenting on his impressions from
the region telling that each member of delegation has to present his
conclusion back home.

Speaking of the possibility of the US administration being changed,
Jackson noted that even if George Bush remains in the White House there
will possibly be new suggestions, aimed at conflict settlement, for the
South Caucasus problems. Here the American diplomat put the necessity
of settling the Nagorno Karabakh conflict as soon as possible.

ItÃ¢~@~Ys vital that the societies of the states interested in conflict
settlement be informed about whatÃ¢~@~Ys going on because they can
essentially influence their governments in finding a right decision,
Jackson said.

Speaking of the Karabakh conflict, Jackson said that he thinks the
settlement will be easier reached if Karabakh peopleÃ¢~@~Ys will is
considered during the talks.

The foreign delegation had meetings with the President of Nagorno
Karabakh Arkady Ghukasian, defense minister Seyran Ohanian and
representatives of NGOs. They visited the sites still bearing the
signs of the past war. The schedule of Baku visit was the same,
Jackson said.

By Kim Gabrielian from Stepanakert

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