WAR IS NOT AN ALTERNATIVE: FASSIER

news.am
Nov 23 2009
Armenia

After Nov. 22 meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents in Munich,
OSCE Co-Chairs met the journalists, where they esteemed the recent
statement by Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, that there will be use of
force unless progress in talks is noted.

According to the RFE/RL, French Co-Chair Bernard Fassier stated:
"War is not an alternative in any case. We have repeatedly told the
presidents baldly and clearly that our governments in Moscow, Paris
and Washington hold the view that the war is not an alternative,
as it does not provide for solution to the problem."

Russian Co-Chair Yuri Merzlyakov also commented on the issue, saying
that any statement can be conditioned by internal political situation.

"We informed the presidents that at the current critical stage of
negotiations it is better to avoid voicing accusations, particularly
those on the solution by military means," Merzlyakov underlined,
expressing hope that the sides will take into account the view of
co-chairing states.

In the course of the sixth meeting this year, the Presidents discussed
the most topical unsettled issues. The progress on certain matters
was achieved as a result of 4-hour meeting, meanwhile having a set
unresolved. The Presidents instructed foreign ministers to continue
cooperation with Co-Chairs on the matters. The next step is a meeting
of Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers scheduled for December
1-2. For the first time the Foreign Ministers will meet after the
Presidents’ meeting.