VARTAN OSKANIAN: IT’S HARD TO MAKE PREDICTIONS ABOUT THE INTENSITY OF THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS IN 2008

armradio.am
06.09.2007 15:25

"It’s hard to make predictions about the intensity of the negotiations
on the Karabakh conflict settlement in 2008. Now we are in a stage,
which is decisive as regards the further development of the process,
since presidential elections are expected in both Armenia and
Azerbaijan.

It’s important what kind of impact these will have: they may have no
influence at all, if there are concrete perspectives of progress,
but they can also stop the process. Therefore, it is difficult to
predict whether 2008 will be an intensive phase of negotiations
or not," Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said during the
discussions of the 2006 budget execution in the Standing Committees
of the National Assembly.

In response to a Deputy’s question, the Minister noted that no
additional financial problems emerge connected with the negotiation
process.

The Minister categorized the expenses into two groups: traveling to
foreign countries and the Co-Chairs’ visits.