EN
15 July 2004 - 17:46 AMT

RUSSIAN MEDIATOR FOR NAGORNO KARABAKH PARTICIPATION IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT TALKS

Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov considers normal the participation of Nagorno Karabakh representatives in the talks over settlement of the Karabakh conflict. The Russian diplomat stated it in Baku today, adding that the issue in question should first of all be decided by the parties of conflict themselves. Thereupon, as reported by Baku sources, Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov stated the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs should act within the OSCE mandate. He reminded that the OSCE mandate of February 24, 1992 notes that Armenia and Azerbaijan are the parties to conflict, while “the Armenian and the Azeri communities of Nagorno Karabakh are interested parties.”