CO-CHAIRMEN’S VISIT

Azat Artsakh Daily,
30 June 08
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

On June 28, NKR President Bako Sahakian met with OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairmen Matthew Bryza (the USA), Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia) and
Bernard Fassier (France), who had arrived in Stepanakert the same
day. A wide range of issues concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement was discussed during the meeting. Bako Sahakin emphasized
that the final solution to the problem is impossible without Karabakh’s
participation in the negotiation process. The Head of the state noted
that Azerbaijan’s anti-Armenian propaganda and bellicose rhetoric
don’t promote the formation of an atmosphere of mutual confidence and
affect the negotiation process and maintenance of peace and stability
in the region as well. The hostilities provoked by the Azerbaijani
armed forces in the Martakert region on March 4 illustrate it. The NKR
President again noted that official Stepanakert is for exclusively
peaceful settlement of the conflict and establishment of a direct
dialogue with Baku. Bako Sahakian noted that the NK conflict should
be settled within the OSCE Minsk group framework and Azerbaijan’s
attempts to transfer it to other instances do not further the conflict
settlement. The co-chairmen shared the President’s viewpoint. They
also expressed their readiness to assist the peaceful settlement of
the conflict and noted that NKR’s participation in the negotiation
process is a question of time. NKR Foreign Minister Georgy Petrossian
and Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej
Kasprzyk attended the meeting.