June 30, 2008 - 15:06 AMT
Azerbaijan's attempts to transfer Karabakh problem to other instances do not promote resolution
On June 28, NKR President Bako Sahakian in Stepanakert met with OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs, Ambassadors Matthew Bryza (the U.S.), Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia) and Bernard Fassier (France) to discuss a wide range of issues concerning the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.

President Sahakian emphasized that final solution of the problem is impossible without Nagorno Karabakh's participation in the talks.

At that he remarked that Azerbaijan's anti-Armenian propaganda and bellicose rhetoric don't promote creation of an atmosphere of mutual confidence and affect the negotiation process as well as peace and stability in the entire region. "Hostilities provoked by the Azerbaijani armed forces in the Martakert region on March 4 illustrate it," Mr. Sahakian said, adding that official Stepanakert stands for peaceful resolution of the conflict and establishment of a direct dialogue with Baku.

Noting that the Karabakh conflict should be settled in the framework of the OSCE Minsk group, President Sahakian said that Azerbaijan's attempts to transfer it to other instances do not further the process. The Co-chairs agreed fully with the viewpoint.

They also expressed readiness to assist peaceful settlement of the conflict and noted that NKR's participation in the negotiation process is an issue of time.

NKR Foreign Minister Georgy Petrossian and Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk also attended the meeting.