POLITICS
NO COUNTRY, INCLUDING ARMENIA HAS EVER RECOGNIZED NAGORNO-KARABAKH AS AN INDEPENDENT STATE, BERNARD FASSIER
“No country, including Armenia has ever recognized Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state”, Bernard Fassier, the OSCE Minsk Group French Co-Chairman said at a joint press conference with Russian Co-Chairman Ambassador Yury Merzlyakov in Baku Friday.
The Minsk Group Co-Chairmen said they discussed with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov the basic principles of peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, which Mr. Fassier and Mr. Merzlyakov said is the Group’s major goal.
Bernard Fassier, said the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to hold talks in Russia on June 9 on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The French Ambassador noted “we can not expect this meeting to solve all problems”, however, it will help a negotiation process.
Russian Co-Chairman Y. Merzlyakov said their proposal is that Armenian troops should withdraw from the 7 occupied territories adjacent to Nagorno-Karabakh.
“But it can not be solved instantly. It would require a certain period, in other words, it should be resolved stage by stage”, the Russian diplomat underscored.
The Ambassadors also said OSCE Chairman in Office Miguel Angel Moratinos will visit the region in June.