DENNIS SAMMUT: PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN HAVE A HISTORIC MISSION TO CARRY OUT

armradio.am
16.06.2008 15:16

"It was very important that the two presidents could meet so soon after
the election of Serzh Sargsyan as President of Armenia. President
Ilham Aliyev and President Serzh Sargsyan now have a historical
mission to make the peace process work and to achieve peace for
future generations of Armenians and Azerbaijanis. I think both men
have the capacity to achieve this historical mission," Dennis Sammut,
Executive Director of the London Information Network on Conflict and
State Building (LINKS), said in an interview with Armenpress.

According to Sammut, Not much was expected from the St Petersburg
meeting and not much was achieved. However, the negotiations are
back on track. Now what is needed is that they be speeded up and the
process improved. "The OSCE Minsk process provides a good framework
for the negotiations. However there are many ways in which it can
be improved. And a sense of urgency needs to be introduced to the
process. Time is on nobody’s side. The two sides have channels of
communication. They need to use them efficiently," he said.

"When I was asked in Azerbaijan whether Serzh Sargsyan can be a
constructive partner in the peace talks, taking into consideration his
"political roots," I said ‘yes.’ The fact that he understands the
essence of the conflict, will help to reach solution more easily,"
Denis Sammut noted.