Armenian radio reports possible “breakthrough” in Karabakh talks
Armenian Radio First Programme, Yerevan
14 Jul 05
[Presenter] The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen will return from
Stepanakert to Yerevan today. Our correspondent Tatul Akopyan is now
in Stepanakert. He is covering the diplomats’ Artsakh [Nagornyy
Karabakh] visit.
Good day, Tatul. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs met the president of
the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic [NKR], Arkadiy Gukasyan, yesterday
after which they answered journalists’ questions. What details can you
report us?
[Correspondent Tatul Akopyan from Stepanakert by telephone] The OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs’ negotiations with the Karabakh side ended
yesterday. As is known, the co-chairs also visited Stepanakert during
their current visit to the region. They met President Gukasyan at 1800
[1300 gmt], and the meeting lasted two hours. The Karabakh foreign
minister also took part in the meeting. After the meeting the
co-chairs held a news conference. After the news conference the talks
continued for quite a long time. This means that a definite
breakthrough in the conflict settlement is expected.
The OSCE Minsk Group’s Russian co-chair, Yuriy Merzlyakov, said that
“the parties are still far from reaching an agreement on the
settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict”. He noted that the
meeting with Gukasyan was very interesting and effective. Answering
journalists’ questions, Merzlyakov said that the talks were still
continuing and one should not expect the three co-chairs to propose
something new. One should understand that these are backstage
diplomatic activities and the co-chairs have already suggested all
they could.
[Presenter] Is there any news about that what the co-chairs are saying
about a future settlement to Artsakh?
[Correspondent] The co-chairs repeated a few times that they respect
the confidentiality of the talks and that they are not ready to
divulge any information.
The co-chairs will continue the talks in Yerevan. Talks will also be
held between Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev during their visit to Kazan. It will be then
possible to speak about progress in the talks.