BERNARD FASSIER: CURRENT PERIOD FAVORABLE FOR KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.03.2010 11:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ After conclusion of a ceasefire agreement in 1994,
Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan live in ‘no peace no war’,
French Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group said.

"In 2009, the Minsk Group Co-Chairs held 6 meetings with Presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan. 3 meetings were initiated by Russian
President," Ambassador Bernard Fassier said during the 73rd NATO PA
Rose Roth seminar in Yerevan on Friday.

"The OSCE Minsk Group is committed to implementation of Madrid
Principles, which are on the table," the French mediator said.

According to him, any solution to the conflict should ensure an
interim status for Karabakh, envisage security guarantees and return
of displaced persons.

"Madrid Principles stipulate for conduction of a referendum in Nagorno
Karabakh, for those residing there before the war. They also suppose
a corridor between Armenia and Karabakh, return of refugees and
establishment of lasting peace with the assistance of international
forces. The current period is favorable for the conflict settlement,"
he said.

Ambassador Fassier also informed that the mediators met in Paris with
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. "A meeting with the
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian is expected as well,"
he said.