Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
July 12 2005

OSCE MG co-chairs in Baku

Baku, July 11, AssA-Irada
The OSCE Minsk Group (MG) co-chairs Bernard Fassier of France, Steven
Mann of the USA and Yuri Merzlyakov of Russia arrived in Baku on
Monday for a two-day visit.
The co-chairs met with Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and head of
the Azerbaijani community of Garabagh Nizami Bahmanov.
Bahmanov has told journalists that views were exchanged on some
details, including ensuring security of key roads, during the meeting
that lasted 80 minutes.
Bahmanov did not rule out that OSCE peacekeeping forces will be
involved in guarding the strategic Lachin corridor. The return of
residents of Lachin and Shusha districts home was discussed as well,
he said.
`It was decided that the Upper Garabagh conflict be settled stage by
stage. Armenian armed forces must be withdrawn from the occupied
regions of Azerbaijan and the people returned to their homes.’
The MG co-chairs will visit Yerevan on Wednesday and then Upper
Garabagh.*