Interfax Russia, Russia
Sep 16 2007 2:38PM
Minsk Group hopes for Karabakh’s role in the talks
STEPANAKERT. Sept 16 (Interfax) – The co-chairmen of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Minsk Group for Nagorno
Karabakh settlement said on Sunday that broader contacts were needed
with the leaders of the breakway republic.
Representatives of Nagorno Karabakh must appear at the negotiating
table one day – the sooner the better, France’s Bernard Fassier, a
Minsk Group co-chairman, told reporters after talks with Nagorno
Karabakh’s new President Bako Saakian in Stepanakert on Sunday.
This format existed previously, but Karabakh’s return to the
negotiating table does not depend on the mediators alone, he said.
Co-chairman Mathew Bryza of the United States said changing the format
of the talks would be impossible to discuss now that new political
seasons were beginning in Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Bryza said the discussion of the proposals, on the negotiating table
already, must be continued.
Russian co-chairman Yury Merzlyakov said his impression of the new
Karabakh president was good and that the mediators needed to discuss
and assess what the talks had addressed.
Saakian told the press that the current format of the talks was not
effective and that the mediators had been informed of that.
"We must thank Armenia for the efforts made, but think that if the
settlement is to be carried through to the end, Nagorno Karabakh must
necessarily participate in the talks," he said.
The co-chairmen are expected to return to Yerevan on Sunday. sd