THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR SETTLING KARABAKH CONFLICT: OSCE CHAIRMAN-IN-OFFICE

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6. ARMINFO. There is an opportunity for settling
the Karabakh conflict, OSCE Chairman-in-Office Dimitrij Rupel said
Monday commenting on his meeting with President of Nagorno Karabakh
Republic Arkady Ghoukassyan.

He said that he and Ghoukassyan exchanged opinions on the present
situation in the peace process. Rupel told Ghoukassyan about his visit
to Azerbaijan. He pleaded cooperation between the conflicting parties
and noted that OSCE does not support either of the nations but tries
to attain together with them some mutually acceptable resolution.

Rupel said that there is no much time for resolution and now there
is an opportunity for that. He said that he had brought a clear
message of Azeri President Ilham Aliev for Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan. Rupel hopes that both the presidents and the FMs
will continue their talks and that a constructive dialogue will be
established in the region.

Rupel said that in the Karabakh peace process the question is
about reconciling two principles – territorial integrity and
self-determination right. As to attaining resolution as early as this
year this would not be bad but the Nov 2005 parliamentary elections in
Azerbaijan are not a very good component for the negotiating process.

Asked by ARMINFO when one can expect the involvement of Karabakh as a
full party to the peace talks Rupel said that there already is a quite
expansive negotiating format – OSCE Minsk Group, Armenian and Azeri
presidents and FMs. But Rupel is ready to negotiate with anybody to
facilitate the resolution.