POSSIBLY, TIME FOR MAKING VERY IMPORTANT DECISIONS WILL COME SOON, BERNARD FASSIER CONSIDERS
Noyan Tapan
Se p 18, 2008
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The process of peaceful settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict continues to be carried out on the
basis of "Madrid principles." Possibly, time for making very important
decisions will come soon. Bernard Fassier, the OSCE Minsk Group French
Co-chairman, stated at a press conference in Yerevan.
According to him, one of today’s tasks of OSCE Minsk Group
is to create possibilities for a meeting between Presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan after holding of presidential elections in
Azerbaijan. B. Fassier said that at present OSCE Minsk Group exerts
efforts for organizing a tripartite meeting of Foreign Ministers of
Armenia, Turkey, and Azerbaijan within the framework of the session
of the UN General Assembly to be held at the end of the current month
in New York.
Answering the question about Turkey’s showing an initiative in
the issue of peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
the French diplomat said that this initiative of Turkey does not
pose danger for OSCE Minsk Group. He stated that he welcomes any
manifestation of good will "if it does not pursue the goal to search
out a new variant of conflict settlement." In his words, Turkey is
a member of OSCE Minsk Group, which several times a year presents
OSCE with details regarding the process of settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict. "If Turkey’s wish to exert mediation efforts in
the conflict settlement is indeed good, we are not against."
As regards the latest events in Georgia, Bernard Fassier stated that
OSCE Minsk Group is against settlement of conflicts through a war. He
also gave assurance that the latest regional events confirmed that
a military solution is not acceptable for any of the conflict sides.