Parties to Karabakh conflict discussing new OSCE formula – Russian mediator
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
6 Apr 05
[Presenter] There are real grounds for resolving the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict, the Russian co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Yuriy
Merzlyakov, has said.
The sides have already discussed the latest proposals of the
mediators. If the sides agree to the proposal under consideration,
then it will be possible to resolve the conflict, he said.
[Correspondent over archive footage] The new proposals of the OSCE
Minsk Group concerning the resolution of the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict have already been discussed once, Merzlyakov said. Although
the mediators pointed to several aspects regarding the settlement of
the conflict, the sides are still not willing to accept them.
[Merzlyakov speaking in Russian with Azeri voice-over] I cannot unveil
the proposals yet. Second, we are not talking about a package of
proposals, but only about several aspects of resolving the conflict. We
have chosen the most important aspects. I can say that it is worth
discussing those aspects.
There is an agreement to discuss these aspects, they have been
discussed and the positions of the sides are being clarified.
[Correspondent] Merzlyakov described the previous negotiations
concerning the conflict as positive and said that there are already
grounds for an ultimate political solution to the conflict. He said
that the next meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign
ministers will discuss the aspects proposed by the Minsk Group
co-chairmen.
[Merzlyakov] I regard the negotiations we have had as positive. The
talks have reached a stage when a political decision is
unavoidable. The proposal of the co-chairmen will be taken as a basis
for the final decision. Certainly, I believe that the presidents only
need to take such decisions. Ministers cannot do that. This decision
has to be discussed at a high level.
[Correspondent] Merzlaykov thinks that if the sides agree to the
proposals of the co-chairmen, then it will be possible to resolve
the conflict. It is possible to conduct the negotiations without
agreeing on the text, which I mentioned, but it is impossible to
produce a real outcome. Our proposal is not a document, it is only
a short formula. If there is an agreement on it, the process will go
on. The remaining issues will be then easy to resolve, end quote.