France welcomes any initiative helpful for Karabakh process

PanARMENIAN.Net - France, as co-Chair with the Russian Federation and the United States of the OSCE Minsk Group in charge, on behalf of the OSCE, to assist Armenia and Azerbaijan to achieve a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, welcomes any initiative of good will which could be helpful in the ongoing negotiation process, Nicolas de Lacoste, a deputy spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry, told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.



"In this respect Turkey, as a prominent member state of the Minsk Group, has always supported the efforts of the tripartite co-Chairmanship which presented to both sides involved in the conflict, last November in Madrid, a written document of "Basic Principles for a peaceful settlement of the conflict". This document, result of three years of intense negotiation between the sides, with direct involvement of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, is still under discussion and remains on the table," he said.



Earlier, Turkish President Abdullah Gul announced his intention to mediate between the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents. "The OSCE Minsk Group failed to produce effect during 17 years of its mediation. Turkey-Armenia and Azerbaijan-Armenia issues are not only bilateral but also territorial. The situation in the region has changed. Resolution of conflicts will lead to political and economic stability," he said.