December 27, 2007 - 15:39 AMT
Base principles on Karabakh may be ready in January 2008
The international mediators can develop a draft on the Nagorno Karabakh peaceful agreement before the presidential elections in Armenia, if both the sides agree upon the basic principles of conflict resolution, OSCE MG Russian Co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov said.

The mediators submitted written proposals to Azerbaijan and Armenia during the meeting in Madrid in the end of November. Due to the confidentiality of the process, no details were announced on the issue.

"The proposals offer nothing new", said Merzlyakov.

The Russian mediator stated that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs hope to get reaction of both sides during their visit to the region in the middle of January. "In Madrid, the Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers presented their opinions. But the sides are studying the proposals," Merzlyakov said.

He did not exclude that the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan may meet after the Co-chairs' visit to the region. The co-chairs are also planning to visit Nagorno Karabakh, Trend reports.