Bernard Fassier: If the foreign ministers agree on the final variant, work on the major document will be completed in Kazan

OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs Igor Popov, Robert Bradtke, Bernard Fassier and Personal Representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk, who crossed the occupied Azerbaijani territories from the Aghdam-part of the line of contact, answered journalists’ questions in Khankendi.

French co-chair Bernard Fassier regarded as positive the mediators’ third visit in the past year to Khankendi through the line of contact.

"It shows that cooperation gives opportunity to observe the ceasefire better. We hope such passages will be regular," mentioning the Deauville statement of the presidents, Bernard Fassier said according to the document the conflict can be solved only peacefully.

"This is a very important factor. The presidents noted that it would be better if the basic principles are agreed soon, peaceful settlement can be drafted after that," he said.

U.S. co-chair said they discussed the processes that followed their meeting with head of the separatist regime Bako Sahakyan in April.

"It was a very tense period in terms of diplomatic activity. Non-use of force was the major point underlined by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during the meetings with the foreign ministers of the two countries. Deauville statement of our presidents says that use of force will not solve the problem. Use of force will result in the death, suffering of more people. The problem can not be solved by using force," he said.

Russian co-chair Igor Popov said the final proposals that will be introduced to the presidents will be discussed at the next meeting of the Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian foreign ministers.

"In this issue we proceed from the Deauville statement. It says that drawing this document in the short run will give impetus to our activity. We consider that the sides will demonstrate constructive position in the Kazan meeting," he said.

Answering journalists’ question, Igor Popov said he does not support the term "updated Madrid principles".

"New proposals, amendments are made during every meeting. There is a draft, work is continued on some issues. Ministers are doing this work, if the final variant is agreed on, work on that document will be completed in Kazan," he said.

Bernard Fassier said the recent variant of the Madrid principles is the variant discussed in Sochi three months ago.

"Amendments are being made, there remain little points, work is continued on them. Therefore, we hope the final variant will be agreed on immediately," he said.


/APA/