BERNARD FASSIER: "IN CASE OF THE GARABAGH CONFLICT WE ARE DEALING WITH THE INTERNATIONAL LAW, A CONFLICT INSIDE AZERBAIJAN AND AN INTERSTATE CONFLICT"

Today, Azerbaijan
Jan 16 2008

French co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group Bernard Fassier said the
Kosovo and Nagorno Garabagh conflicts have little in common.

"We have already announced that the year of 2008 will be decisive in
the issue of Nagorno-Garabagh settlement and that there is a hope to
reach a breakthrough in the execution of basic principles".

The due statement was made by the French co-chairman of the OSCE
Minsk Group Bernard Fassier, who arrived in the so called "Nagorno
Garabagh Republic" in the framework of the regional visit of the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairmen following the meeting with the president of
the self-appointed "republic".

The French co-chairman noted that it is desirable to achieve the
breakthrough before elections in Armenia, which is not easy.

"Yet, it would be better to do it following the elections in Armenia
or in Azerbaijan. We consider that such possibility exists and we
intend to achieve definite results", the French mediator said.

According to him during the meeting with the president of the
so-called "Nagorno Garabagh Republic" the sides discussed prospects
of the settlement of Nagorno-Garabagh conflict, current situation in
Azerbaijan and relations between the countries of the region.

Speaking about the prospects of Garabagh’s involvement into the
negotiation process, Bernard Fassier noted that the said issue had
been discussed both in Yerevan and in Baku.

The French co-chairman said it is difficult to state whether Kosovo
may become a precedent for the settlement of other conflicts or not.

"The situation in Kosovo is quite different. We have mentioned this
in Yerevan, as well as in Baku and in Khankendi. Let’s take just some
of its aspects.

The Kosovo conflict is a conflict inside one country, while in case
of the Garabagh conflict we are dealing with the international law,
a conflict inside Azerbaijan and an interstate conflict. The situations
are quite different", Bernard Fassier announced.

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