YURIY MERZLYAKOV: "I DON’T RULE OUT THAT WE WILL RETURN TO AZERBAIJAN AFTER VISITING ARMENIA"
APA
Feb 26 2009
Azerbaijan
Baku. Victoria Dementyeva-APA. OSCE Minsk Group Russian Co-Chair Yuri
Merzlyakov talked to journalists at the airport on his arrival in Baku.
-What led the co-chairs to make their last statement? Azerbaijan
submitted the reports touched upon in this statement to UN last
December, but your reaction cropped up in February.
-The reports were made during the New Year holidays. Therefore it is
naturally that the reaction was delayed.
-Do you consider that such reports made within the international law
can prevent the solution to the conflict?
-The co-chairs are guided by that principle that what can prevent and
what can assist the solution. We based only on this principle in our
statement. We don’t think that such reports, especially the documents
spread in the other organizations (later it was spread in OSCE) can
assist the solution, at least the mediation mission of the co-chairs.
-What goals are the co-chairs following in this visit?
-We are aiming to discuss the disputed points of basic principles at
the request of the presidents in Zurich.
It is important to consider important opinions of the parties on the
issues and we should present a proposal after recompleting it. I don’t
rule out that we will return to Azerbaijan after visiting Armenia.
-Is there any agreement on next meeting of the presidents? Where can
a meeting be held?
-We will touch upon the issue during our meetings with the
presidents. The main issue is when and where the meeting will be held.
-Turkish media reports that five regions will be returned to Azerbaijan
according to current plan on the solution to the conflict and temporary
administration will be established in Nagorno Karabakh. Has such kind
of plan been discussed?
-I am not ready to comment the information and discussed issues on
Nagorno Karabakh.
-Goran Lennmarker considers that there is a golden chance for solution
to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Your opinion on the issue will
be interesting.
-You should ask Mr. Lennmarker to characterize the chance as gold. We
have stated that there is an objective chance for the solution to
the conflict. Solution of the subjective factors depends on will of
the parties. Difficult decisions should be passed. There will be a
golden chance, when it will happen. I cannot say that there is such
kind of chance at present.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress