MATTHEW BRYZA: "NO DEEP DISCREPANCY EXISTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES"

Today, Azerbaijan
Feb 7 2007

Co-chairs of the OSCE Minks Group Matthew Bryza (US) and Bernard
Fassier (France), mediators in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, will meet in the framework
of International Energy conference in Paris next week.

Commenting on the Minsk Group’s activity, the US co-chair approved
the mediating activity, APA reports.

"The settlement of the conflict needs political will. The situation is
not complicated but, the schedule is intensive because of the upcoming
elections in Armenia this year. It is welcoming that democracy is
developing and elections are held in both countries. I feel that the
problem will be solved but I can not say when. I feel very optimistic
regarding the settlement of the conflict, but I can not solve it
alone. We expect the Presidents to prepare their communities for this
process. Our duty is to help the parties to hold negotiations through
stages," Mr.Bryza said.

The US co-chair also said Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers
will meet in several weeks, but the co-chairs are not going to visit
the region soon.

Commenting on applying Kosovo variant to the settlement of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict, the co-chair said each conflict has its specific
features, so any settlement can not be applied as a model.

"There exist some elements for the solution of the discrepancy
concerning the core principles. I think, we have achieved progress to
some extent, no deep discrepancy exists between the parties," he said.

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