ISSUE OF NAGORNO KARABAKH’S PARTICIPATION IN NEGOTIATIONS ONE OF MAIN
COMPONENTS OF ARKADY GHOUKASSIAN’S AND MATTHEW BRYZA’S CONVERSATION

STEPANAKERT, JULY 31, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Arkady
Ghoukassian characterized the atmosphere of the July 29 meeting with
OSCE MG American Co-chair Matthew Bryza as "very constructive and
creative". "We exchanged opinions and looked for joint approaches
to promote the progress", – Matthew Bryza told the journalists after
the meeting.

As NT was informed from NKR Foreign Ministry Press Service, The
Co-Chair noted that his first visit to Nagorno Karabakh was purely
acquainting. "One should not expect any new elements yet – I have
just arrived to listen to your opinion", – Matthew Bryza said.

Commenting upon the meeting with the U.S. Co-Chair NKR President Arkady
Ghoukassian said: "Undoubtedly, one of the principal issues of our talk
was participation of Nagorno Karabakh in the negotiations, and I think
that Mr. Bryza understands that without Nagorno Karabakh the conflict
cannot be settled. Not only he but all the mediators realize it".

The President noted that without visiting the NKR and getting
acquainted with the situation on the spot the newly-appointed Co-Chair
would not be able to form full notion about what was going on in
the region.

"I have not had big expectations from Mr. Bryza’s visit as I knew that
he was not arriving with new formulas but to listen to us. In this
respect my expectations have been justified because we could entirely
present our positions. As regards the fact that the mediators had not
arrived in Nagorno Karabakh for a long time it was to a greater extent
connected with technical issues. I have been constantly receiving
invitation to meet with them in Yerevan but I think that it would be
right to hold such meetings in Stepanakert", – Arkady Ghoukassian said.

"In the course of the meeting a creative approach both by the President
and the American Co-Chair was displayed. The ideas, which were to
be specified, coordinated and discussed for a long time, have been
expressed", – in his turn NKR Foreign Minister Georgy Petrossian,
who participated in the meeting of the Republic’s President with the
OSCE MG U.S. Co-Chair, told the journalists.

"I am glad that the American Co-Chair has arrived as promised. We
agreed upon that in the USA. Mr.Bryza is energetic enough and makes
up his mind constructively", – NKR Minister of Foreign Affairs said.