"The whole region would benefit from Armenian-Turkish ties normalization," OSCE MG American Co-Chair told a news conference in Yerevan. The diplomat finds that the Armenian and Turkish Foreign Ministries' recent statement on bilateral ties normalization reveals positive tendencies. "Such tendencies are essential to Karabakh settlement process. We hope that normalization of Armenian-Turkish ties and Karabakh conflict settlement will be separate, though parallel processes; hence we believe the paces of achieving a final outcome will be different," M. Bryza noted.

Without disclosing any details of his meeting with the Azeri President, the American diplomat also stressed that Mr. Aliev had introduced his position on normalization of Armenian-Turkish ties.


In his turn, French Co-Chair Bernard Fassier added that any steps towards the establishment of security and stability will have a positive impact on the region. The Co-Chairs also said that contents of the "route map" remain confidential.


"I'd like to note that official Yerevan has very clearly and unequivocally stated that Armenian-Turkish negotiations are not linked to Karabakh peace process," Bernard Fassier said. The French diplomat also added that as an OSCE MG member state, Turkey had always given support to Co-Chairs in their efforts towards achieving conflict settlement.