OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS CONVINCED THAT START OF NORMALIZATION OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS WILL HAVE POSITIVE IMPACT ON NAGORNO KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
NOYAN TAPAN
APRIL 28, 2009
YEREVAN
The OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs are sure that the start of the process
on normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations will have a positive
impact on the process of Nagorno Karabakh settlement.
They stated it at the April 27 press conference.
MG French Co-chair Bernard Fassier said that the mediators have
no right to comment upon the "road map" signed between Armenia and
Turkey on April 22. At the same time, according to him, the signing
of that document became the first step aimed at normalization of
Armenian-Turkish relations. "That document means the start of a new
process, which will require much time. We hope that this process
will create a favorable climate for settlement of Nagorno Karabakh
conflict. And we, mediators, parallel with this process should exert
all efforts for solving the Nagorno Karabakh problem," the French
diplomat stated.
As to a connection between the process of normalization of
Armenian-Turkish relations and Nagorno Karabakh settlement, B. Fassier
reminded that the Armenian authorities have repeatedly denied existence
of such a connection.
American Co-chair Matthew Bryza stated: "The document signed between
Armenia and Turkey had a good impact on increase of a positive
energy in the region. In its turn, that energy will contribute to
Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. We think that both processes,
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations and Nagorno Karabakh
settlement, will proceed separately, that is, parallelly but with
different speeds."