June 28, 2008 - 14:49 AMT
Azeri leadership's bellicose statements hamper peace process
Armenia's Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met Friday with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, Ambassadors Matt Bryza of the U.S., Bernard Fassier of France and Yuri Merzlyakov of Russia as well as with Personal Representative of the OSCE CiO, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk to discuss the Karabakh settlement and present the position of the Armenian side on the issue.

"Bellicose statements by the Azeri leadership hamper the negotiation process and creation of atmosphere of trust between the conflicting sides," the Minister said.

Once again stressing the necessity of a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the mediators briefed Minister Nalbandian on the outcomes of their meetings with Azerbaijani President and Foreign Minister. "We will continue our efforts to bring positions of the sides closer, basing on the Madrid proposals handed to the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in November 2007," the mediators said, the RA MFA press office reported.