May 6, 2008 - 18:30 AMT
Fassier: much depends on Foreign Ministers meeting
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian of Armenia and Elmar Mammadyarov of Azerbaijan held their first-ever meeting in Strasbourg today.

According to OSCE Minsk Group French Co-chair Bernard Fassier, the intermediaries held a consultative meeting on Monday. Today's agenda includes a similar meeting and separate talks with Mammadyarov and Nalbandian to be followed by joint discussion with participation of both Ministers and the mediators.

Mr Fassier said the Co-chairs will give a dinner in honor of the FMs to continue talks in an informal atmosphere. He said he hopes for constructive negotiations. "It is the first meeting between the ministers and of course, it is an acquaintance. So, it is too early to speak about results."

The Co-chair noted that the sides could discuss possible directions to continue the talks. "The Foreign Ministers may need to meet once more before a presidential meeting. If necessary, we will organize this meeting. All depends on the results of the Tuesday talks," he said, the Azeri Press Agency reports.