OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRPERSONS PREPARE RENEWED VERSION OF MADRID DOCUMENT

Noyan Tapan
July 28, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 28, NOYAN TAPAN. The OSCE Misnk Group Co-Chairpersons
prepared the renewed version of the Madrid document at the July 25-26
working meeting taken place in Krakow. According to Minsk Group
American Co-Chairman Metthew Bryza, it creates basis for bringing
the fundamental principles of the Karabakh settlement to the final
appearance.

"The Co-Chairmen had an effective and creative discussions in
Krakow during the past few days. We most carefully thought over the
positions expressed by the two sides starting from November 2007, since
presentation of the Madrid document. Then, based on the instructions
presented by our three Presidents on July 10, 2009, we prepared the
renewed version of the Madrid document," M. Bryza said on July 27 in
the interview to Radio Liberty correspondent.

The OSCE Co-Chairpersons expressed gratitude to former President of
Armenia Robert Kocharian and former Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian
owing to efforts of whom it was managed to lay down the foundations of
the Madrid document. "We are also thankful to President Sargsyan and
Foreign Minister Nalbandian for the considerable progress which was
reached during difficult but constructive discussions. Owing to it, we
managed to leave the Madrid document behind. We now have a possibility
to bring the Fundamental Principles to the final appearance," M. Bryza
mentioned. In his words, Azerbaijan also had a constructive position,
though "President Aliyev and Foreing Minister Mamedyarov protect
their national interest just as their Armenian counterparts do."

The CIS countries heads’ regular meeting is envisaged in Chisinau
in early October during which the next meeting of the Presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan is possible to take place. The OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairpersons’ regional visit is expected in September during which
the circle of issues to be discussed during Sargsyan-Aliyev October
negotiations will be defined.