PRELIMINARY DEAL ON NAGORNO KARABAKH CAN BE SEALED BEFORE ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.12.2007 18:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A preliminary deal with Azerbaijan over Nagorno
Karabakh could be possible before the presidential elections early
next year, Armenia’s Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan told Reuters in
an interview.

"I don’t think the presidential election should impact on these
negotiations. I am very hopeful, confident even, that we can still
reach a conclusion on such a framework before then,"

PM Sargsyan is confirmed his intention to run in next year’s elections
for the right to replace his ally, outgoing President Robert Kocharian,
but said it would not distract from efforts to reach a consensus
with Azerbaijan.

"The thing is that I am not a new person in Armenian politics and
Armenian government. I was there for long time and I participated
in all developments particularly as regards the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict," Sargysan said late on Tuesday on a visit to the European
Parliament. "I am well aware of all the details and now when new
proposals are coming, there are also coming with my consent. That
is why I don’t think that the presidential elections can disturb the
negotiation process."