MEETING OF PRESIDENTS TO BE HELD ON JUNE 4 IN ST. PETERSBURG: FRENCH CO-CHAIRMAN OF MINSK GROUP

Trend News Agency
May 29 2009
Azerbaijan

The meeting of the Presidents will be held on June 4 in St. Petersburg,
French co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group Bernard Fassier briefed
the media.

"The talks in Baku were normal. We did not expect a special break. This
was the preparation work for the meeting of the Presidents in
St. Petersburg," said U.S. co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group
Matthew Bryza.

"In my opinion, this will be an interesting meeting – Bryza
said. – Co-chairmen expect significant progress from the meeting
in St. Petersburg. The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was
constructive in Prague, and we expect the same reaction from the
President of Armenia Serj Sarkisyan. Tomorrow we will meet with
Sarkisyan and look forward to constructive negotiations".

With regards to the statement that the OSCE Minsk Group has not been
able to achieve progress in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
for a period of 18 years, Fassier replied: "If reaching an agreement
would be in force of the Minsk Group, the agreement would be signed. It
does not depend on us. We can not tell the Presidents of Azerbaijan
and Armenia to be smoothed over the conflict. "According to him,
it depends on the political courage of both Presidents.

Bryza said that the OSCE Minsk Group could achieve more, but the
meeting on 4 June can bring something specific and unexpected.

Fassier said that Turkey is an important member of the Minsk Group
and supported the efforts of the co-chairmen on the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict settlement.