OSCE MG TO VISIT KARABAKH CONFLICT REGION JULY 11-16

PanARMENIAN.Net - Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group over settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict will visit the region July 11-16. As reported by Ambassador Yuri Merzlyakov, along with his MG colleagues Steven Mann (US) and Bernard Fassier he will go to Baku, then to Yerevan and Stepanakert. Touching upon the efficiency of the negotiations, specifically a few rounds of meetings of the FMs of Armenia and Azerbaijan within the Prague process, the Russian diplomat said, "some encouraging trends are observed." "These can be called progress or certain closing in of the approaches of the parties. In any case the Co-Chairs have some optimism," Y. Merzlyakov said. At the same time, referring to the confidentiality of the talks, he did not specify matters, in which the parties have become closer. When commenting on Azerbaijan's statements that the opportunity of lifting the transport blockade of the communications between Armenia and Azerbaijan that also comprise Nagorno Karabakh and Nakhichevan is considered at the talks, the Russian diplomat said, "the opening of communications in the region as a whole in the broader sense is discussed at the talks." "The Azeri party has made this proposal," Merzlyakov remarked. In his words, at present the OSCE MG Ambassadors are waiting for the final response of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan over their meeting within the framework of informal CIS Summit in Kazan July 26, Regnum news agency reported.