Yuri Merzlyakov: "The OSCE Minsk group are seeking for such a condition, which would be profitable for all Karabakh conflict parties"

"It is necessary to define independence of which Karabakh is implied", said Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov at a press conference in Yerevan on November 17, answering the question whether the possible exchange of lands in the negotiation process on the conflict resolution is discused.

"The task of the OSCE Minsk group co-chairs is to find a condition, which would be profitable for all Karabakh conflict parties", noted he.

Answering the question, whether he considers it first of all necessary to settle the issue of Karabakh independence and then speak of lands, Merzlyakov asked to specify which independence of which Karabakh is implied - Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast within Azerbaijani SSR, which declared sovereignty in 1991, or preset-day Karabakh, considering the security zone.

"We should be realists", concluded the Russian co-chairman.

/Regnum/