Yuri Merzlyakov, the OSCE Russian Co-Chairman, has informed Trend that initiatives on the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within UN impede the peaceful negotiations on the issue. He said that efforts should be taken to agree the key principles; one should not focus attention on other matters.
Mr. Merzlyakov said that if the issue was discussed within the UN, then the known response of the Armenian party, which insists on bringing Nagorno-Karabakh into negotiations, would be negative and undesirable. He stressed that the UN resolutions were aimed at Armenia's possible influencing Karabakh, therefore Armenia said that if the issue was introduced to the UN, then it would just be Nagorno-Karabakh with which Azerbaijan would have to negotiate. The Russian Co-Chairman is sure that it may affect the whole peaceful negotiation process.
With regards to the date when the next meeting between the Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers is to be held, Mr. Merzlyakov said that the meeting was expected to be held around the beginning of March 2007. However, he added that the Co-Chairmen were unable to receive confirmation from the conflicting parties.
He also added that one of the Co-Chairmen would visit the region to solve organizational and other issues prior to the meeting to be held between the two Foreign Ministers.