Domestic

Home page

Domestic

Yuri Merzlyakov: It would not be right to say Armenia deviates from its position on the coordinated issues

19 February 2007 16:49 (UTC +04:00)

â€œThe discussions held in Paris were very productive,â€? Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov told the APA exclusively while commenting on the latest meeting of the Minsk Group co-chairs in Paris on February 15-16.
Saying that they met with Armenian foreign minister Vardan Oskanian, the mediator called the meeting very useful and expressed his regret that Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov was not in Paris.
Touching on the reason why the co-chairs didnâ€™t meet with Araz Azimov, personal representative of Azerbaijani President for Nagorno Karabakh conflict, who was attending the international energy conference in Paris that time, Mr.Merzlyakov said they were not appealed for a meeting, and on the other hand, Deputy Assistant Secretary Matthew Bryza did not have any information about Azimovâ€™s presence in the conference.
Commenting on Araz Azimovâ€™s statement that Armenia is deviating from its position concerning the coordinated issues, Merzlyakov said that Azerbaijan has really raised some issues during the negotiations, but Armenian side did not give any response.
â€œI think it would not be right to say that Armenia deviates from its position as the issues raised by Azerbaijan have not been discussed in detail by the co-chairsâ€? he said.
The co-chair again stressed that the uncoordinated issues are not of only technical character, and Azimovâ€™s statement proves it again.
Russian diplomat said that the mediators are working to arrange a meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers in early March. /APA/