VARTAN OSKANIAN STATES ARMENIA READY TO ACCEPT PRINCIPLES SUGGESTED BY OSCE MG AND CONTINUE
NEGOTIATIONS WITH AZERBAIJAN

AZG Armenian Daily #133, 18/07/2006

Opinion

The statement by OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen on Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement principles was not completely unexpected for
Armenia, said at the July 14 press conference RA Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian.

Certainly, Armenia was aware of the intention to disclose the Content,
he said. In general, the statement will help to start objective
discussions in the Armenian society, said Mr. Oskanian. He said that he
has neutral attitude to the statement and to the conflict settlement
principles. He added that he has no intention to persuade anyone to
accept them, as Azerbaijan has not accepted them in its turn. "If
the terms were ideal for Armenia, I would be the first person to
start persuading everyone to accept those terms," he said. Anyway
the document is not a perfect one, but it represents a balanced
combination of mutual compromises, which could become a good ground
for further negotiations between the conflict sides.

In response to the question about the probable meeting of Ilham
Aliev and Robert Kocharian, he said that this issue will discussed
during the visit of Minsk Group Co-Chairman Matthew Bryza. He also
said he cannot give any certain information about the coming visit of
Bryza. Mr. Oskanian also commented on the reports about contradictory
statements by the two OSCE Co-Chairmen and the contradictions
between the positions of Armenia and Karabakh on the abovementioned
statement. He said that the settlement terms are acceptable for
Armenia in general.

Mr. Oskanian said emphasized that Armenia will express its official
position on the matter during Matthew Bryza’s visit to Armenia. Most
of the principles are not convenient for Armenia, as the necessity of
accepting them cannot be so easily explained. Nevertheless Armenia
is ready to accept the principles suggested by the Minsk group and
renew negotiations with Azerbaijan.

By Nana Petrosian

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress