STEPANAKERT MAY BECOME PARTICIPANT IN BAKU-YEREVAN TALKS ON NAGORNO- KARABAKH – SOURCE

Interfax
Jan 25 2010
Russia

The preamble to the Madrid Principles for settling the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, which the Armenian and Azeri presidents discussed in Sochi
on Monday, stipulates the need for Nagorno-Karabakh to be involved
in talks, a source close to the negotiating process told Interfax.

"The preamble that was discussed stipulates the need for Nagorno-
Karabakh’s involvement in the further phases of the negotiations and
priority of nations’ right to self-determination," the source said.

The Armenian, Azeri, and Russian presidents gathered for a tripartite
meeting in Sochi earlier on Monday to discuss prospects for settling
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said following the meeting
that Yerevan and Baku would draw up their proposals in addition to
the updated Madrid Principles.

Interfax could not immediately obtain official comments on
Stepanakert’s possible participation in negotiations with Baku and
Yerevan from the participants in Monday talks.