OSCE MG STATES PROGRESS IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Yesterday Azeri President I. Aliyev received OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Steven Mann (US), Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia) and Bernard Fassier (France). As reported by AzerTAj, the parties exchanged views over the current state and the prospects of the negotiation process for settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The source also reported yesterday the Co-Chairs met with head of the Azeri community of Karabakh Nizami Bahmanov and FM E. Mamedyarov. During the meeting details of settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict within the «Prague process» were discussed. After the meeting with E. Mamedyarov the Russian Co-Chair told journalists that many questions were discussed at the meeting and indicated the availability of positive moments in the talks. «We were in Baku just a month and a half ago and if they have come again, then the situation is good,» when assessing the talks stated the French Co-Chair. The Co-Chairs will leave for Yerevan July 13 and then to Stepanakert. On the other hand the «head of the executive of Shushi region, head of the Azeri community of Karabakh» Nizami Bahmanov, who took part in the meeting, stated «main discussion topic at the meeting with the co-chairs was liberation of lands occupied by the Armed Forces of Armenia and the stepwise settlement plan was discussed.» He said the «head executive of Lachin region took part in the meeting for the first time.» N. Bahmanov emphasized that «the issue of return of the population of Shushi and Lachin regions was discussed,» «The co-chairs said Armenians are concerned over their fate after liberation of the regions occupied by Armenia. We tried to convince the co-chairs the concerns are not grounded and we told them that within the past 100 years there were no Armenians in Lachin region. We pointed out the importance of the withdrawal of the Armenian population settled in Lachin. There are no problems left in re-settling local population in Lachin.» N. Bahmanov stated that the issue of guarding the Aghdam-Stepanakert-Shushi-Lachin-Goris motor road by peacekeeping forces was also clarified, «Azeris will use the road along with Armenians. Peacekeepers will control the road in the territories of both Azerbaijan and Armenia. The process will continue until peace is completely achieved.» He indicated the importance of the Kazan meeting of the two Presidents in clearing out the problems over resolution of the conflict. He noted that some issues would be fully clarified after the meeting.