THERE ARE OBJECTIVE GROUNDS FOR PROGRESS IN 2010, MEDIATOR

news.az
Dec 21 2009
Azerbaijan

Yuri Merzlyakov We are completing the year with a good positive
dynamics, said OSCE Minsk Group’s Russian co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov.

According to Merzlyakov, the objective is to preserve positive dynamics
next year.

"There are objective grounds for the progress but it is difficult to
say how the process will proceed. Next year we will be working at the
next meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents. We have no
ideas about the date and venue. We will speak on this issue during
our visit to the region", he said.

Merzlyakov said the co-chairs will try to make the positive dynamics
to be more effective in 2010.

"This implies not signing or a framework agreement. It means
coordination of basic principles or main principles of settlement on
which we are working during each meeting of the presidents. If they
are coordinated, we will start to develop the text of the complete
peace agreement on this basis. The basic principles approved by the
presidents will, in fact, be what we call a framework agreement. I
do not think this will be the signing of any document.

This will be either a joint statement or separate statements about
their approval and the instruction to the ministers of foreign affairs
and the co-chairs to start developing the text of the agreement. The
coordination of these principles will be a progress", the co-chair
said.

The Russian co-chair found it difficult to specify the date of the
new visit of the co-chairs to the region.