YURI MERZLYAKOV DENIED STATEMENT ARROGATED TO HIMSELF THAT ARMENIAN AND AZERI LEADERS WOULD MEET SOON

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group for Nagorno Karabakh settlement Yuri Merzlyakov has denied a statement arrogated to himself by Baky media that allegedly the Armenian and Azeri Presidents will meet within the framework of the coming Istanbul conference. As Merzlyakov specified to Arminfo agency, earlier he said, "Presidents Robert Kocharian and Ilham Aliyev have agreed to have meetings at international forums." In his words, it was not a question of meeting in Istanbul, especially since until recently R. Kocharian was not planning to participate in that conference. As of the coming visit of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to the Karabakh confrontation region, in the Russian diplomat's words, it is planned in the spring, although there are no concrete terms. A preparatory work will precede the visit, including meetings with head of foreign departments of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Y. Merzlyakov said.