DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Feb. 26, 2008
OSCE CHAIR-IN-OFFICE CONTENT WITH POSITION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH
LEADERSHIP
YEREVAN, 26.02.08. DE FACTO. The issues referring to the Karabakh
conflict settlement were discussed February 26 in Yerevan in the
course of a bilateral meeting of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
President Bako Sahakian with OSCE Chair-in-Office, Finland’s FM Ilkka
Kanerva.
The interlocutors, in part, discussed the issues referring to the
realization of monitorings on the NKR and Azeri Armed Forces’ contact
line. The parties set forward a number of proposals. Upon the
completion of the talks a joint press conference of the NKR President
Bako Sahakian and the OSCE Chair-in-Office Ilkka Kanerva >>> was
held.
Touching upon the results of the bilateral talks held with the
Karabakh party, the OSCE Chair-in-Office expressed satisfaction with
the fact that the Nagorno-Karabakh political leadership had
reaffirmed its adherence to the peaceful settlement of the issue.
Ilkka Kanerva noted it was very important for him to visit both
Armenia and Azerbaijan and consider the situation from the position
of both parties. He stated Finland, as the country chairing the OSCE,
supported the issue’s constructive settlement and searched for the
ways of its solution.
The OSCE Chair-in-Office noted he had already met with RA President,
RA FM and other officials. `The Karabakh issue was one of the
principal items in our agenda’, the OSCE Chair-in-Office said.
Answering a question if the OSCE Chair-in-Office endorsed the opinion
that the OSCE Minsk group had been exhausted Ilkka Kanerva noted he
did not see serious arguments that could convince him in it. `The
Minsk group, in my opinion, makes its additional contribution to the
process of the issue’s settlement, enhances confidence between the
parties and is a guarantor of achieving positive result. The Minsk
group is an effective mechanism’, the OSCE Chair-in-Office noted.
At the same time, the OSCE Chair-in-Office underscored the importance
of continuation of contacts and meetings between Armenian and
Azerbaijani Presidents.
Touching on the perspectives of advancement of the settlement process
Ilkka Kanerva noted, `When the situation created in connection with
presidential elections in Armenia already becomes a historic event, I
think we’ll have a big ground for growing optimism apropos of the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue’s settlement’.
Touching upon the issue referring to Azerbaijani party’s militaristic
statements Ilkka Kanerva said, `in the course of political debates,
before the issue’ settlement is achieved, strong expressions are used
sometimes, however, they cannot have a positive influence on the
issue’s resolution’.