July 15, 2005 - 14:32 AMT
ELECTION IN AZERBAIJAN THEORETICALLY WILL NOT IMPEDE KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
The referendum on adoption of amendments to the Constitution in Armenia and the parliamentary election in Azerbaijan theoretically will not influence the talks on settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, however I cannot say what will actually happen. Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kaspzyk stated this at a news conference in Yerevan. In his turn, OSCE Minsk Group Russian Co-Chair Yuri Merzlyakov said the meeting with Armenian President R. Kocharian was substantial and open and details of the approaches of the parties to solution of the issue were discussed during the conversation. In his words, for 2 months the Co-Chairs try to work out wordings of basic principles of the future settlement. Progress over some issues is available, while others need further elaboration. He also said that OSCE MG Co-Chairs have met with Nagorno Karabakh President A. Ghukasyan during each visit to the region. In his words, these meetings are always interesting. Knowing and taking into account the posture of NK is important to the mediators when working over the wordings. Answering a question on issues the parties have come to agreement, Merzlyakov remarked in their work the Co-Chairs observe confidentiality principle and added the parties discuss elements of the settlement foundations at the moment.