Yuri Merzlyakov Doesn't Rule out Deadlock in Karabakh Process

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group gives a positive estimate to the year of 2005 within the context of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. "Some positive nuances were fixed after the meetings of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents in Warsaw and Kazan. It is important that the parties now approach the issue taking into account the position and interests of each other. The level of demands has lowered," Yuri Merzlyakov said. "The OSCE MG Co-Chairs consider 2006 will offer good opportunity for serious progress in the Karabakh conflict settlement process," the Russian diplomat said not excluding however the possibility of deadlock in the settlement process. Yuri Merzlyakov also noted that the parties have not come to agreement on some fundamental principles. "Yerevan, Baku and Stepanakert have already got familiarized with the new proposals by the OSCE Minsk Group, though there are some items that remained undecided. There are 9 items Azerbaijan disagrees with," Yuri Merzlyakov noted. In his opinion, the next Kocharian-Aliyev meeting may be held in early February 2006, reported RFE/RL.