MINISTER OSKAIAN DOES NOT RULE OUT THE RESOLUTION OF THE KARABAKH ISSUE THIS YEAR

ArmRadio.am
20.02.2007 17:15

"The resolution of the Karabakh conflict during this year is
not ruled out, but the existing optimism is cautious," RA Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian said during a joint press conference with
the German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. According
to Vartan Oskanian, the document on the bargaining table inspires
hope that, but there are still unsolved problems. In the Minister’s
words, there will be a window of opportunity for the settlement of
the issue after the parliamentary elections in Armenia, and if the
parties demonstrate necessary political will, it will be possible to
achieve serious progress during this year. "I do not rule it out, but
the optimism is cautious, since we have been engaged in the process
for 13-14 years. There were moments that we thought the resolution
of the question was close, but nothing yielded any results," said
Vartan Oskanian.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier also expressed hope that on the basis of the
documents worked out recently it will be possible to reach long-term
settlement of the question. Among others, the Karabakh issue was
discussed during the German Foreign Minister’s visit to Azerbaijan.

>From his meetings in Armenia and Azerbaijan Steinmeier got the
impression that the parties consider the existing documents a good
basis for continuing the negotiations. He expressed hope that with the
mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs the talks will reach the
level after which it will be possible to inform the societies, who are
gradually preparing to comprehend the ways of resolution of the issue.