OSCE MG: BTC CANNOT HAVE DIRECT IMPACT ON KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net - «I do not think the launching of the Azeri part of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline can have a direct impact upon the Nagorno Karabakh settlement. In any case, this factor will not entail fundamental changes in the positions of the parties,» stated OSCE Minsk Group Russian Co-Chair Yuri Merzlyakov, APA Azeri news agency reported. In his opinion, the redeployment of Russian military bases from Georgia to Armenia cannot hamper the negotiation process: «Russia plans to station the military bases being withdrawn from Georgia in Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria. However, there are types of military equipment and materiel that need being placed at the Russian military base located in Armenia. For instance what sense does it make taking the military equipment needed for the planned replacement to be withdrawn from the region for being returned later?» Mr. Merzlyakov called the opportunities of use of ammunition and equipment in case of hostilities ungrounded: «The OSCE MG is engaged in the settlement of the issue and our main goal is not to allow resumption of hostilities in the conflict zone.» The Russian diplomat also noted also noted the Co-Chairs had worked much over the meeting of the two Presidents in Warsaw: «I can say that the meeting was held in a rather productive atmosphere. The Presidents reaffirmed the have a genuine incentive to attaining a settlement of the conflict. The meeting conveyed a new impetus to further talks. We have already visited Baku, next week we will meet with Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian, who is going to tour European countries. In the middle of June we are going to organize a meeting of the FMs of the two countries.» Yu. Merzlyakov said that the recurrent meeting will be held in the initial format - «three Co-Chairs and the FMs». «The meeting will take place in one of European countries. We are scheduled to pay a recurrent visit to the region in the former half of June. I hope the Ministers will hold more than one meeting until then.»