ROBERT KOCHARIAN NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT NEGOTIATION PROCESS

PanARMENIAN.Net - The format of the OSCE Minsk Group is optimal for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict" Armenian President Robert Kocharian told journalists at a joint with the Estonian leader press conference. "The parties to conflict but not the mediators are the problem", Robert Kocharian added. According to him, there are two serious circumstances impeding the negotiation process, the first being non-participation of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the process, since Baku insists on holding talks with Yerevan only and as a matter of fact Armenia is representing NKR. "I think it is not quite a correct format as it does not touch the kernel of the conflict", the Armenian President noted. The second problem lies in Azerbaijan's refusal from active regional cooperation. Armenia's formula is as follows: via cooperation towards settlement, while Azerbaijan adheres to another one: unless the problem is settled, cooperation is out of the question. Touching upon the present condition of the negotiation process R. Kocharian noted he is not very optimistic about it.