June 26, 2008 - 15:47 AMT
OSCE MG: wisdom and will essential for lasting peace in Karabakh
French co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassador Bernard Fassier arrived in Baku on Wednesday.
Upon arrival, Amb. Fassier congratulated Azerbaijani people on the occasion of the Armed Forces Day and said he would attend the parade dedicated to the anniversary.
Stating the fact that peace agreement had not been achieved yet, he said, "The conflict has been lasting for 15 years. Establishing real peace requires wisdom, moral power and will."
The French co-chair informed that Amb. Yuri Merzlyakov of Russia and Matthew Bryza of the U.S. will arrive in Baku later that day. "We suppose to meet Friday with Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and President Ilham Aliyev," he said.
Later the co-chairs will leave for Yerevan and meet with Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Presdent Serzh Sargsyan.
Following this, the co-chairs will visit Stepanakert, return to Yerevan again and leave for Vienna.
Amb. Fassier also said that OSCE Minsk Group will hold a meeting in an expanded composition in Vienna on June 30, when the mediators will report on the negotiation process. He also noted that, following the Presidents instructions, they were working at Madrid proposals with the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan. It is not known whether the work will be accomplished before or after the presidential elections in Azerbaijan, the Azeri Press Agency reports.