GORAN LENNMARKER: "US AMBASSADOR’S STATEMENT ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT ON NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT IS NOT WIDE OF THE TRUTH"

APA
Feb 10 2009
Azerbaijan

Yerevan-APA. "I am very optimist and I think that the conflicting
parties can reach agreement by the end of the year.

It is important that leaders of both countries take responsibility for
the settlement of the conflict", said OSCE PA Special Representative
for Nagorno Karabakh and the South Caucasian conflicts Goran
Lennmarker in his interview with Panarmenian.net, APA reports.He said
the settlement opportunities were missed for several times. "There
are opportunities for the settlement every time, but how long we are
playing for time, it is worse for the people living in Nagorno Karabakh
at first. I consider US ambassador to Armenia was not wide of the truth
while speaking about the possibility of framework agreement". Goran
Lenmarker said the Nagorno Karabakh Armenian community could join
the negotiations in one of the phases. "Armenia is representing
the Nagorno Karabakh’s interests in the negotiations now. I hope
Azerbaijan and Armenia will reach the agreement, because it is too
important. The presidents and foreign ministers of both countries
met in Zurich recently. I don’t know the details of the talks, but
even their meeting is a positive signal".

Goran Lennmarker stressed the impossibility of military solution to
Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

"We observed military solution to the conflict during developments
in South Ossetia in August. The core principles should be based
on peaceful solution to the conflict. Both parties, Azerbaijan and
Armenia should be coordinated respecting the core principles. And of
course, OSCE MG should participate in the process. The settlement of
Nagorno Karabakh conflict will have impact on South Caucasus. The
event will be beginning of dialogue between the countries and EU
Eastern Partnership Initiative will play an important role within the
framework of the context. The countries, which chose the way towards
integration into EU, should take step in this direction," he added.

Lennmarker took stance on Iranian influence on the settlement of
Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

"We should positively approach towards any assistance directed for
the solution to the conflict. But we do not have to forget that Iran
has own problems with international community. Methinks, if Mohammad
Khatami is elected as the President of Iran, it will cause changes
in the region. Hatemi is more loyal politician in comparison with
current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad," he said.