Merzlyakov: No Framework Agreement on Karabakh Bargaining TableJuly 11, 2006 - 18:30 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - There is still no framework agreement at peaceful negotiations on the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, reportedly said Yuri Merzlyakov, the Russian co-chairman of OSCE Minsk Group. Merzlyakov said mediators have offered the parties to coordinate the problem settlement principles prior to developing the agreement on their basis. Besides, co-chairmen do not use in negotiation process such terms as "stage-by-stage", "package", "universal" and so on, Merzlyakov remarked.The further state of the negotiation process, the Russian diplomat went on, will get defined after the first regional visit of Matthew Bryza as US co-chairman of OSCE Minsk Group. «At the moment I am just not ready to state the situation. It will get clear when he comes there and listens to the parties' opinions», he added. Merzlyakov added that Bryza's visit to the region had been originally scheduled to later July or early September. Answering the question about the preparation to the next meeting between foreign ministers or presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Merzlyakov said: «The co-chairmen's latest statement says the parties shall put forward their initiatives. We are always alongside, we ill always help. But in the coming months we are not going to undertake anything,» reports Trend. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Lemkin Institute urges Armenia to respect people’s right to dissent The Lemkin Institute has urged the Armenian government to respect people’s fundamental human right to express their dissent. Iran’s Red Crescent sends aid to Armenia’s flood-hit regions The Iranian Red Crescent Society has sent humanitarian aid to the victims of deadly floods that hit northern Armenia on May 25-26. Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. |