July 15, 2005 - 13:55 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - During today's press conference
OSCE Minsk Group Russian Co-Chair Yuri Merzlyakov stated that the progress in the Karabakh conflict settlement is obvious. "There are elements that allow speaking of settlement till the end of the current year. However there are serious discrepancies and moot questions as well", he said. US Co-Chair Steven Mann noted that there are possibilities but no guarantees for the settlement of the conflict till the end of the year. "The issue may be settled in a year or in 100 years", he stated earlier. When commenting on the issue Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk noted that even if the Co-Chairs issue the finite draft agreement on the conflict settlement, it does not mean that the issue will be resolved. "The agreement of both parties to conflict is essential. There is no guarantee that a proposal from outside will be adopted by the conflicting parties", he stressed.