BOTH COUNTRIES SHOULD PREPARE THEIR PUBLICS FOR PEACE AND NOT FOR WAR,
REPRESENTATIVES OF OSCE MG CO-CHAIR COUNTRIES DECLARE
YEREVAN, MAY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. “We, the representatives at the Deputy
Minister level of the Russian Federation, the United States, and
France, together with the Co-chairs and the Personal Representative of
the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, have come together in this joint
diplomatic mission because of the need to promote a peaceful
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and because now it is time
for the sides to reach agreement on the basic principles of a
settlement,” the joint statement of the representatives of OSCE Minsk
Group Co-chair countries for press spread in the evening of May 25
read. “We were received by President Kocharian and met earlier with
Foreign Minister Oskanian. As we did yesterday in Baku, we have
discussed important aspects of a future settlement. We have worked to
create the conditions for a meeting of the two presidents in the near
future. We have stressed the belief of our nations and, more widely,
of the international community that the conflict can be resolved in no
way than a peaceful one. Both countries should, moreover, prepare
their publics for peace and not for war.” According to the document,
discussions, both in Yerevan and the day before in Baku, were
constructive. The representatives of OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair
Countries met the day before with President Aliyev and Foreign
Minister Mammadyarov. They will return to their capitals the next day
to brief their leaders. The Co-chairs will, as well, brief, the OSCE
and the international community. “A joint mission such as this one is
a special event. It must be taken as a sign of the seriousness with
which we approach the issue and, in particular, a belief that we are
at the point where a mutually beneficial agreement is achievable. What
happens now will be up to Armenia and Azerbaijan. We leave with hopes
and expectations of progress. We are pleased to be in Yerevan and wish
to express our gratitude to President Kocharian and the people of
Armenia for receiving us,” the statement read.