OSCE HOPES TO RESOLVE KARABAKH CONFLICT

Interfax News Agency, Russia
Russia & CIS
February 28, 2008

OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Finnish Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva
has pledged further promotion of the Karabakh settlement negotiations.

"The OSCE will continue to support the negotiations. This is my
priority. I hope the OSCE will eventually find a way to resolve this
problem," Kanerva told a press briefing in Baku on Thursday, commenting
on a meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.

Kanerva welcomed "the will of the Azeri and Armenian leaders to
continue the negotiations."

"The OSCE will fully support results of these negotiations,"
Kanerva said.

He also called for boosting the Karabakh settlement process.