MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS POSITIVELY ESTIMATE WARSAW NEGOTIATIONS

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| 15:02:24 | 19-05-2005 | Politics |

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs give a positive estimate to the
recurrent round of the immediate negotiations between the Armenian
and Azerbaijani Presidents that took place in Warsaw May 15, Day.az
reports.

“In our opinion the meeting transmitted a political impulse to the
further talks. It is very important. We will follow the direction the
Presidents outlined and there is a strong hope that we will succeed”,
MG Russian Co-Chair Yuri Merzlyakov stated.

When commenting on Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharian’s refusal to make
a statement upon completion of the meeting Yuri Merzlyakov said, “It
is their right”. “It does not mean that they have nothing to sat. On
the contrary, they have but decided to not to say anything”, he added.

When touching upon the recent statement by Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar
Mamedyarov about Armenia’s readiness to abandon 7 Azeri territories the
Co-Chair said, “Judging from the facts available and the Minister’s
words it was a journalist interpretation. What does it mean that
Armenia is ready? The withdrawal of troops is being considered and
this principle is not questioned by the Armenian party. However there
is no final agreement”.

According to the diplomat the withdrawal of troops is not the “issue
of tomorrow or the day after tomorrow”.