On 28 June NKR President Bako Sahakyan met co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk group Matthew Bryza (USA), Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia) and Bernard Fassier (France) who arrived in capital Stepanakert on the same day.
       During the meeting a wide range of issues related to the Nagorno Karabagh conflict settlement were discussed.
       According to Bako Sahakyan as long as the Nagorno Karabagh Republic is not party to the negotiation process no final settlement of the conflict is possible. The Head of the State noted that anti-Armenian propaganda and militaristic rhetoric in Azerbaijan not only prevent the formation of an atmosphere of mutual trust between the parties to the conflict, but also have a very negative impact preventing formation of the atmosphere of mutual confidence, but also have a very negative impact on the negotiation process as well as on stability and peace in the region. The March 4 military operations provoked by Azerbaijani armed forces in Martakert region obviously demonstrate that.
       The President stressed that official Stepanakert is a proponent of peaceful settlement of the conflict and establishment of a direct dialogue with Baku.
       Bako Sakayan underlined the Nagorno Karabagh reconciliation must be reached within the OSCE Minsk group and the attempts by Azerbaijan to shift it to other instances do not contribute to the settlement of the conflict. The co-chairs fully supported this viewpoint. They also expressed their readiness to contribute in every way possible to the peaceful settlement of the conflict and noted that Nagorno Karabagh's participation in negotiations is only a matter of time.
       NKR foreign minister Georgy Petrosyan and personal representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office Andrzej Kasprzyk were present at the meeting.

2008-06-28