CO-CHAIRS PRESENTED WRITTEN PROPOSALS
Support A1+!In 2006 we expect fresh enthusiasm and efficiency based upon the agreements achieved in 2005 in the Karabakh conflict settlement process, OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs stated at a news conference today.
The joint statement says in part, “The present promising circumstances created within the negotiation framework more than ever demand fulfillment of all the armistice conditions at the contact line.” When answering the journalists’ questions the mediators noted that the meeting with Robert Kocharian was sincere and fruitful. “We are sure we are moving in the right direction,” U.S. Co-Chair Steen Mann said. Today Russian Co-Chair Yuri Merzlyakov refuted NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan’s statement that the Co-Chairs did not produce written proposals. “All the details were discussed with Arkady Ghukasyan in detail and all the proposals were submitted in written form,” Yuri Merzolyakov said.
As for the details the mediators abided by the principle of confidentiality. “These are ways which will allow the continuation of the talks. The Karabakh conflict should be settled with the consent of both parties to conflict,” French Co-Chair Bernard Fassier stated. The mediators however did not explain why they do not undertake steps for engagements of the Karabakh party in the negotiation process. “This issue should be decided by the parties not by the mediators”, Yuri Merzlyakov said. Despite the inspiration the Co-Chairs refrained from assuring that the Karabakh conflict will be settled in 2006. “Next year is a golden window for the settlement of the conflict lasting 1- 1.5 years, which is accounted for the absence of electoral processes in both countries,” Bernard Fassier noted. As for the meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents preliminarily scheduled for January 15, 2006, Bernard Fassier said, “The issue is still being discussed and the place and date of the meeting is known yet.
