MERZLYAKOV: “INTENSIVE CONSULTATIONS ARE HELD ENOUGH TO SETTLE NK CONFLICT”

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 3 2006

“Intensive consultations are held enough to settle the Nagorno Garabagh
conflict,” Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov
told APA. Commenting on the expressions that there is standstill in
the negotiating process, the co-chair objected to these views and
said the Minks Group co-chairs are negotiating with the conflicting
parties separately.

“American co-chair Steven Mann and US Assistant Secretary of State
Daniel Fried visited Baku, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
paid a visit to Washington,” he said. “Azerbaijani Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov will be visiting Washington this week and Vardan Oskanian
will be in Moscow. French co-chair Bernard Fassier is likely to visit
the region soon. We have agreed to conduct bilateral talks for the time
being and then determine the date of restoration of the multilateral
process on the basis of the contacts,” Mr.Merzlyakov said.The Russian
co-chair hopes that the co-chairs will pay a joint visit to the region
in April-May and have talks with the Presidents.

Commenting on the reason why the co-chair met in Istanbul on 20 March,
the diplomat said the place was suitable.

“American co-chair and Daniel Fried left for Turkey before the
co-chairs, and Istanbul was selected for meeting to familiarize with
conclusions of the talks conducted by them,” he noted.

Merzlyakov also said that another Russian diplomat replaced him in
that meeting as he was ill.

Replying the question whether he will leave the position of co-chair,
the diplomat said that he was not informed about it.

Also commenting on incomplete talks in Rambouillet, Merzlyakov said
that the Presidents preplanned continuing the talks on Sunday.

“But seeing that they will not reach a consensus Kocharian decided
to return on Saturday,” the co-chair concluded.