2006 has just begun and there is hope to settle the Nagorno Karabakh conflict till the end of the year, OSCE Minsk Group Russian Co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov told PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words, consultations between the mediators for the determination of the date of the Armenian and Azerbaijani FMs' meeting will be held in the near future. "The fact is that the schedules do not coincide and it's difficult for us to agree on a certain place and date of the meeting. April 7 Armenian Foreign Minister will be in Moscow while Azerbaijani Minister will be visiting Washington. Nevertheless I think the OSCE Minsk Group will visit the region in May. Then we can agree on the Ministers' meeting," Yuri Merzlyakov said. He also added that French Co-chair Bernard Fassier is likely to visit the region in April.

As for the regular meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents, the Russian mediator said it's premature to speak of it yet. "The meeting of the Presidents should be properly prepared and this demands time," he said.