Azerbaijani FM: OSCE MG co-chairmen to develop compromise between conflicting parties

The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen's upcoming visit to the South Caucasus will be aimed at finding a compromise between the conflicting parties, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told press on Monday.

Mammadyarov said that the co-chairmen's regular visit will take place by late October. The parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have reached an agreement on certain issues. But there are some items creating obstacles in the negotiation process, minister said.

"The formula is required to find a compromise," he said. "The mediators' upcoming visit is aimed at finding this formula."

Mammadyarov said that the main goal at this stage is to return the occupied lands to Azerbaijan, rather than to determine the status of Nagorno-Karabakh. According to it, internally displaced persons must return there.

"The main thing is to return the occupied territories," he said. "The status can be resolved only at the last stage."

The current status quo can not continue, he said. French President Nicolas Sarkozy also confirmed this during his visit to Baku and Yerevan last weekend.

"Azerbaijan's position is clear," he said. "The sooner we will achieve peace, the better."


/Trend/