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Mediamax, Armenia
Jan 16 2008
MEDIATORS HOPE FOR KARABAKH BREAKTHROUGH BETWEEN ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN
IN 2008
Yerevan, 16 January: Yuri Merzlyakov, the Russian co-chair of the
OSCE Minsk Group, said that "it was not possible to find a mutually
acceptable solution but an agreement on basic principle for the
Karabakh conflict settlement may and should happen this year".
Merzlyakov made the comment in Stepanakert on 15 January after the
international mediators met Nagornyy Karabakh republic (NKR)
president Bako Sahakyan. Merzlyakov said that after reaching an
agreement on the basic principles, they will start working on a text
of an accord which is "impossible without the participation of
Nagornyy Karabakh as it involves the life of the Karabakh people".
The French co-chair, Bernard Fassier, also said that there is hope
that 2008 would become crucial for making a breakthrough and wrapping
up the process of reaching an agreement on basic principles. He said
that during the visits to Baku and Yerevan, the co-chairs raised the
issue of how to involve Nagornyy Karabakh representatives in the
talks process.
Answering a question about the possibility of applying the Kosovo
precedent in settling the Karabakh conflict, Fassier said that unlike
the Kosovo conflict, which is an internal issue, Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict is not. "These are different situations, and the Karabakh is
a quite difficult issue," Fassier said.
Karabakh president Bako Sahakyan reiterated Karabakh position. "The
international recognition of the NKR is our main goal," he said.
Speaking about the basic principles for the settlement, Sahakyan said
that a number of issues of the document do not meet the Nagornyy
Karabakh's interests. He said that the NKR's security could not be a
subject of discussions. He said that no comprehensive settlement is
possible without Nagornyy Karabakh's participation in the talks as a
fully-fledged party. He added that the belligerent statements of the
Azerbaijani political leadership do not contribute to a constructive
development of the negotiations process. The OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs, Sahakyan said, were informed of this position.
The mediators are planning to participate in the monitoring of the
contact line between the armed forces of the NKR and Azerbaijan.
[translated]
Jan 16 2008
MEDIATORS HOPE FOR KARABAKH BREAKTHROUGH BETWEEN ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN
IN 2008
Yerevan, 16 January: Yuri Merzlyakov, the Russian co-chair of the
OSCE Minsk Group, said that "it was not possible to find a mutually
acceptable solution but an agreement on basic principle for the
Karabakh conflict settlement may and should happen this year".
Merzlyakov made the comment in Stepanakert on 15 January after the
international mediators met Nagornyy Karabakh republic (NKR)
president Bako Sahakyan. Merzlyakov said that after reaching an
agreement on the basic principles, they will start working on a text
of an accord which is "impossible without the participation of
Nagornyy Karabakh as it involves the life of the Karabakh people".
The French co-chair, Bernard Fassier, also said that there is hope
that 2008 would become crucial for making a breakthrough and wrapping
up the process of reaching an agreement on basic principles. He said
that during the visits to Baku and Yerevan, the co-chairs raised the
issue of how to involve Nagornyy Karabakh representatives in the
talks process.
Answering a question about the possibility of applying the Kosovo
precedent in settling the Karabakh conflict, Fassier said that unlike
the Kosovo conflict, which is an internal issue, Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict is not. "These are different situations, and the Karabakh is
a quite difficult issue," Fassier said.
Karabakh president Bako Sahakyan reiterated Karabakh position. "The
international recognition of the NKR is our main goal," he said.
Speaking about the basic principles for the settlement, Sahakyan said
that a number of issues of the document do not meet the Nagornyy
Karabakh's interests. He said that the NKR's security could not be a
subject of discussions. He said that no comprehensive settlement is
possible without Nagornyy Karabakh's participation in the talks as a
fully-fledged party. He added that the belligerent statements of the
Azerbaijani political leadership do not contribute to a constructive
development of the negotiations process. The OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs, Sahakyan said, were informed of this position.
The mediators are planning to participate in the monitoring of the
contact line between the armed forces of the NKR and Azerbaijan.
[translated]