Yesterday Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group Steven Mann (US), Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia) and Bernard Fassier (France) rendered a press conference. During their visit to Baku the mediators met with President Ilham Aliyev, Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov as well as the "heads of the executive of the Shushi and Lachin regions". When touching upon of the work carried out Yuri Merzlyakov commented on the meetings with the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister. He rated the current negotiation stage as promising. In his words, the Prague process is deepening. Reminding of the meeting of the Azeri and Armenian Presidents on May 15 in Warsaw, the Russian Co-Chair positively characterized the process and added that both Presidents assessed the meeting as constructive. However, the Russian diplomat did not go into detail. Yuri Merzlyakov also refrained from answering the question whether the agreement on conduction a referendum in Nagorno Karabakh was achieved. Besides, he did not refute or confirm information that a peaceful draft agreement, according to which the Armenian troops will be withdrawn from 5 regions and later from Lachin and Kelbajar regions, is being discussed by the parties with the mediation of the MG. Yuri Merzlyakov stated the Co-Chairs are not working at any peaceful agreement presently. He said they are engaged in determining common principles. In his words, it is hard to say when these principles will be determined. As for the Azerbaijan's suggestion on the Aghdam-Shushi-Lachin-Goris motor way, the Russian Co-Chair said it will be possible to engage the Armenian and Azeri communities in the negotiations, as natives are aware of peculiarities of the road. In his turn, Mr. Bernard Fassier said that the leaders of both states realize the importance of peaceful settlement of the conflict, liberation of the seized territories and return of refugees. "The Presidents said they wish to see their countries developed and prosperous. It is possible only in case lasting peace is achieved. The French Co-Chair expressed hope that the upcoming parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan will be democratic adding that it can have a favorable impact on the Karabakh settlement. He also said it would be wrong to say that the Minsk Group has done nothing during the 10 years of activities, since the Co-Chairs has done a great deal of work "The mediators are not to blame for the failures in the process. The problem is that the parties failed to demonstrate strong will. One should not forget that the Co-Chairs are mediators while the settlement of the conflict depends on the will of the parties", he noted. The French diplomat noted the expediency of discussing the Karabakh problem with the neighbor states - Iran and Turkey. Yuri Merzlyakov supported the idea noting the warm relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey, which being a member of the Minsk conference receives timely information on the negotiation process. Contrary to Merzlyakov, Steven Mann did not share the opinion of Bernard Fassier. He said the US is not going to discuss the Karabakh problem with Iran, though discussions with Turkey are admissible. He added that the Co-Chairs believe in the possibility of peaceful coexistence of both nations and called the parties to efficient talks for the sake of future of the region. He thanked Ilham Aliyev and the Azeri people for the hospitality and informed about the departure of the mediators for Yerevan and Stepanakert. In his words, the negotiation process strengthened hope for the soonest resolution of the problem. However he refrained from saying when a peaceful agreement can be achieved. "The agreement can be signed in two months. But maybe it will be signed in hundred years", Mr. Mann noted. In his opinion the settlement of the conflict depends on the parties to conflict.