November 16, 2006 - 18:08 AMT
OSCE MG: Resolution of Kosovo Issue to Tell on Karabakh Process
The Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement are hopeful that the recurrent meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents will take place in the near future. "We hope that the meting will be held November 28 within the CIS summit in Minsk," Russian Co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov said. On Thursday the mediators addressed the OSCE Permanent Council. According to the Russian diplomat, 'the current year is a unique window of opportunities for achievement of agreement on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.' Since the beginning of the year the sides have reiterated that they are close to the settlement as never, he added.

"It would be a tragically missed chance for the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to let this window shut without coordinating the basic principles of the future peaceful agreement on Nagorno Karabakh," Merzlyakov said. At that he reminded of the 'upcoming electoral periods in 2007-2008 first in Armenia and then in Azerbaijan.' "We have already experienced the negative influence of elections on the negotiation process," the Russian diplomat said.

When asked about the possible impact of the Kosovo settlement on the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict he said that 'all conflicts have their peculiarities.' "However the decision on Kosovo will tell on the settlement processes of other conflicts in the OSCE space, including the Nagorno Karabakh one, reports RIA Novosti.