PanArmenian News Network
July 14 2005
KARABAKH CONFLICT PARTIES SHOULD NOT WAIT FOR OSCE MG NEW PROPOSALS
14.07.2005 05:22
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group for settlement of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict Steven Mann (US), Bernard Fassier
(France) and Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia) had a 4-hour conversation with
NK President Arkady Ghukasyan in the Nagorno Karabakh capital of
Stepanakert July 13. During the break the mediators answered
questions of journalists. When answering one on the mediators’
proposals Y. Merzlyakov said the parties should not wait for the
Co-Chairs making new proposals, underscoring that before the Warsaw
meeting certain proposals were made and these are now discussed. When
asked the question whether there are `promising moments and positive
trends available,’ the Russian Co-Chair diplomatically answered that
if the parties make statements on it, the mediators are ready to
agree with it. `Co-Chairs’ opinion like that is based on statements
the parties made themselves after the meetings of the Presidents and
FMs of Armenia and Azerbaijan. As of the agreement on settlement of
the Karabakh conflict, the parties are still very far from it,’ Y.
Merzlyakov said. In his turn S. Mann remarked that it is evident that
the parties have not reached accord on many aspects. `There are many
difficulties, however the spirit of the talks itself is important,’
the US Co-Chair emphasized. Respecting the principle of
confidentiality of the talks the Co-Chairs refrained from comments on
the options of determination of the NK status, specifically by means
of a referendum. The mediators had a shared opinion that the
conversation with the NKR President was `very constructive and
interesting.’ `Our goal was to get Arkady Ghukasyan’s answers to a
number of issues, appeared in the course of the settlement process,
share our ideas and stands,’ Y. Merzlyakov said. This morning the
OSCE MG mediators left for Yerevan, Regnum news agency reported.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress