US MEDIATOR NOTES "SERIOUS RAPPROCHEMENT" BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA ON KARABAKH

Azerbaijani news agency APA
18 Sep 07
Baku

18 September: The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen have held a news
conference on the results of their regional visit.

US co-chairman Matthew Bryza said that fruitful meetings had been
held with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and President
Ilham Aliyev. Bryza said that serious discussions had been held at the
meetings and stressed that a serious rapprochement had been reached
between the sides.

"Agreement has to be reached on some issues. We briefed both the
president and the foreign minister on our meetings in Yerevan and
Xankandi [Stepanakert]. The sides should come closer at the moment,"
Bryza said.

Bryza said that at the latest meetings, too, Azerbaijan had
demonstrated a constructive position.

"We are trying to maintain these results. The presidents have brought
their positions very close. There are a number of difficult decisions
to make, but we believe that strong will be demonstrated in these
issues," he said.