ARMENIA CANNOT STOP THE NEGOTIATIONS, AND THE PRESSURE ON IT REMAINS
By Aghavni Haroutiunian

AZG DAILY
03-04-2009

Karabakh conflict

OSCE MG Russian Co-chair resembles his US colleague?

Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents will probably meet next
month. Meanwhile, nothing has changed in the reality of the OSCE
Minsk Group Co-chairmanship process and in general, Karabakh conflict
settlement.

And Azerbaijan, as usual, before the presidents’ meeting again
displays a distinctive activity, in spite of Armenia that doesn’t
take any action, organize an event or make a statement.

Anyway, this time again, according to the Azerbaijani websites, the
OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov announced that it is early
to speak of the referendum on the status of Nagorno Karabakh.

"It is early to speak of the referendum on the status of Nagorno
Karabakh, until it’s model is not found yet", Merzlyakov said according
to Trend News agency. (It is not clear – he speaks of the status or
the referendum).

"Holding of a referendum is defined as a principle that is proposed
to the conflict parties by the Co-chairs. It will be Karabakh people’s
manifestation of will after the parties agree on that model of voting",
he mentioned.

He also added that "the entire population" of Nagorno Karabakh
should participate in the referendum, having in view the Azerbaijani
community.

"We are working on that issue. We need a formulation of a principle
that is acceptable to the two parties", Russian Co-chair said.

"Armenia cannot stop the negotiations, and pressure on it remains",
Yuri Merzlyakov said touching upon the possible opening of the
Armenian-Turkish border. It is a viewpoint inappropriate for the
mediation mission of the Co-chair and hardly corresponds to reality.

Anyway, according to the Azerbaijani website, the Russian Co-chair
underlined that opening of the Armenian-Turkish border may positively
influence on Karabakh conflict settlement.