Matthew Bryza: Minsk Group’s proposals are rather acceptable for Armenia

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
July 31, 2006

Following the talks with Armenian President Robert Kocharian and
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan in Yerevan on 29 July, the US
co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Mathew Bryza arrived in Khankendi
and had talks with head of the separatist regime Arkadi Gukasyan.

APA reports the US co-chair returning to Yerevan told the RFE/Radio
Liberty that Kocharian was quite open with him.

"The talks I had with him will help in preparing recommendations for
other co-chairs," Matthew Bryza said.

The co-chair said the meeting with Kocharian even encouraged him to
continue this process. Stressing that there is a chance to reach
peace agreement in 2006, Mr.Bryza said he believes possibility of
working and achieving success in electoral period as well.

"The parties cannot demonstrate political will to make a trade-off,"
said Bryza adding that after meeting with Kocharian he realized
that the proposals offered by the Minsk Group are rather acceptable
for Armenia.

Commenting on the future status of Nagorno Garabagh, Bryza said the
co-chairs admit that the status of Nagorno Garabagh is to be determined
by its population, "Participation of the people, who lived there till
1988, in this process is the constituent part of a large peace plan."

The US co-chair is paying a one-day visit to the Azerbaijani capital,
Baku tomorrow. He is due to meet with President Ilham Aliyev, Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and head of the Azerbaijani community of
Nagorno Garabagh Nizami Bahmanov.

The US Embassy told the APA Bryza is not planning to hold a press
conference in Baku. The Minsk Group co-chairs will meet in Paris
early next week. The co-chairs mediating in the settlement of the
Nagorno Garabagh will discuss Bryza’s visit in the region./APA/

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress