TALKS SLOW TO MOVE, DESPITE EXISTING GROUNDWORK

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.03.2007 19:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s Foreign Minister, Vartan Oskanian,
concluded a regular meeting of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs,
together with the Azerbaijani FM, in Geneva, reports the RA MFA
press office. This meeting followed a recent visit to the region
by French co-chair Bernard Fassier, who, on behalf of the other two
co-chairs Yuri Merzlyakov of Russia, and Matthew Bryza of the U.S.,
attempted to ascertain the positions of the two presidents, in the
run-up to this meeting of foreign ministers. Minister Oskanian said,
"The talks were slow to move, despite the existing groundwork, as
attempt was made to discuss second-layer details pertaining to the
principles in the document. Although there is clearer understanding
of each other’s positions, one thing is evident that there are deep
differences. We believe that there can still be enough progress to
warrant a meeting of the presidents, and for that reason we agreed
to another meeting in April."

The Minister explained that Armenia remains committed to the principles
in the document that is being negotiated. Although there are many
secondary issues outstanding still, the principles contained in the
document address the fundamental issues with the right trade-offs,
that could lead to a lasting resolution.