BAKU: Russia’s Karabakh mediator says London talks”fruitful and cons

Russia’s Karabakh mediator says London talks “fruitful and constructive” – TV
ANS TV, Baku
19 Apr 05
[Presenter] Regular truce violations on the front line and the growing
tension on the contact line have compelled the [OSCE Minsk Group]
co-chairs to make a statement.
[Correspondent] The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs’ meetings with the
Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers [Elmar Mammadyarov
and Vardan Oskanyan] in London [on 15 April] were fruitful and
constructive, Russian co-chairman Yuriy Merzlyakov has said.
[Merzlyakov by phone, in Russian with Azeri voice-over] A very
intensive exchange of ideas is under way and I positively assess the
consultations being carried out at this stage. Everybody had specific
proposals and we discussed them.
[Correspondent] Merzlyakov said apart from a special statement by
the co-chairs on the growing tension on the contact line, a special
representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office, Andrzej Kasprzyk,
raised the issue of three Azerbaijani POWs held in Nagornyy Karabakh.
[Merzlyakov] The issue is under discussion. I hope the issue will be
resolved soon since it has been brought to the attention of the sides.
[Correspondent] Merzlyakov spoke about the reasons for separate
meetings held with the foreign ministers at the co-chairs’ request.
[Merzlyakov] This was a preparation for an important event, a meeting
between the presidents, that will happen soon. We want to have a
broad exchange of ideas with the sides before that meeting.
[Correspondent] The Russian co-chair said Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan will not participate in the next meeting to be held
in Frankfurt on 27 April. The meeting with Elmar Mammadyarov in
Frankfurt has been set for 27 April because he cannot make it other
time, he said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress