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Bernard Fassier: War is not a way of solution, one should draw conclusion from the tragedy of neighbors

18 September 2008 09:16 (UTC +04:00)

The co-chair noted that Mammadyarov-Naldandian meeting had been agreed with difficulty.â€œThe Foreign Ministers have rigid work schedule, therefore it was difficult to agree on the meeting. We will make utmost efforts at the meeting in order to create conditions for the meeting of the two presidents before the presidential elections in Azerbaijan. The heads of states should specify their work schedule once more to continue the dialogue started in St. Petersburg,â€ he said.

As regards trilateral meeting of Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Armenia within the framework of UN General Assembly, Fassier said it was beyond his competence. Yet Mr. Fassier said they praised Turkeyâ€™s intention to contribute to the process of settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
â€œTurkeyâ€™s intention to contribute to the process and efforts to support OSCE Minsk Groupâ€™s activity are always desirable. Turkey is the member of OSCE Minsk Group and the co-chairs report to all the members several times a year. Turkey is known for its constructive approach to the process of settlement, but the format of the negotiations has not changed. Three co-chairs will carry on the negotiations, any proposal of other members of Minsk Group, as well as Turkey may only be praised. The co-chairs are very glad that Turkey-Armenia relations have become normalized,â€ the co-chair said.

Bernard Fassier says the co-chairs visit the region separately because of their different schedules. â€œUnfortunately we couldnâ€™t come to the region together because of heavy working schedule, but it doesnâ€™t mean that close cooperation between the co-chairs changed. We agreed the visit to the region with each other. We look forward to hold joint meeting in New Yorkâ€.
Fassier said he held very constructive meetings in Yerevan and noted that Armenian leadership was against the changing of OSCE Minsk Groupâ€™s format. â€œI had very constructive meetings in Yerevan and Khankendi. It was confirmed at the meetings once again that negotiations held by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs prevented military operationsâ€. Fassier added that starting the military operations in Nagorno Karabakh would be suicide for both sides. â€œLatest developments in the South Caucasus proved that how the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs were right to state that military solution of the conflict was unacceptable. The war is not a way of solution and it would be suicide for both winner and defeated side, because post-war problems will also need to be solved jointly. It needs to draw conclusion from the tragedy of neighborsâ€.