OSCE proposals basis for future talks – Armenian foreign minister

Arminfo
14 Jul 06

Yerevan, 14 July: The disclosure of the main principles by the
co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group was no surprise for the Armenian
side, Armenian Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanyan said during a news conference at the Mirror
Discussion Club today.

"Of course, we had information that the co-chairmen were discussing the
issue of disclosing the contents of the meeting in Vienna, however, no
information was given to us until recently," the foreign minister said,
recalling that the interview of the US co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk
Group, Matthew Bryza, followed the statement made by the co-chairmen.

"I consider that all this is good for us to start healthy discussions
in our society," the minister pointed out. As for different and
frequent critical opinions about these principals, the minister said
that he treats them calmly. The minister said that he considered
as natural the existence of different opinions and people and forces
that are against the "principles".

However, he noted that at the moment, he does not intend to persuade
anyone, especially the people, about the need to accept provisions
of the document. "In fact, the Azerbaijani side has not accepted
them yet. If this document was a completely ideal for us, I would
start persuading people regardless of whether Azerbaijan has accepted
it or not. But this is a document of compromises on which we have
already expressed our position. We consider that these principles
are comprehensive, well-thought out and have a correct combination
of mutual compromises. They can serve as a basis for us in future
negotiations. But the document is not perfect. So why should we
persuade our people? This is not that stage. We will enter that stage
when there is an agreement between two or three sides," the Armenian
foreign minister said.

[Passage omitted: Oskanyan commented the visit to the region by the
US co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Matthew Bryza]