The OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair, Russian Ambassador Yuriy Merzlyakov, stated in Yerevan on 22 November that the meeting of mediators and the President and Foreign Minister of Armenia was effective, Trend reports citing Mediamax News Agency.
During his interview with journalists at Zvartnots Airport prior to his flight to Baku, Mezlyakov stated that Armenia gave its approval to conduct a meeting with the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Minsk on 28 November 2006 within the framework of the CIS Summit.
Merzlyakov said the mediators are awaiting approval from the Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev in Baku, although earlier the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister made a statement confirming the same.
Merzlyakov said that the absence of the U.S. Ambassador, Matthew Bryza, at the mission which is currently touring the conflict region was linked with the agreement between the co-chairs on the distribution of duties and he is going to meet with Arkadiy Gukasian [leader of Karabakh Armenians], who is currently on a visit to the United States.
In general the year is ending optimistically and if we succeed in maintaining this attitude we will meet 2007 with a positive outlook. Nevertheless, the elections have a deterrent impact on the negotiations and we presume the achievements that we have had this year will enable the pre-election period to pass easily, the Russian Ambassador emphasized.