Steven Mann: "If the conflict is not solved in 2006, that will be a tragedy"

"We discussed the Rambouillet talks thoroughly. However, I do not want to touch on the details of the discussions", US Department of State Senior Counselor for Europe and Eurasia, co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group for Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Ambassador Steven Mann said.

Mr. Mann refused to comment on the Azerbaijani side’s stance. The Ambassador said that he had heard about Robert Kocharyan's leaving the meeting, Russian co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov's coming after him and broke of the talks on the second day of the talks in Rambouillet but he had not witnessed these events.

"I was in Rambouillet and I did not witness anything like that. I think it is imaginary story and I do not know who imagined these", said Steven Mann.

Mr. Mann stated that they have discussed the processes in Rambouillet.

"2006 should be the year of settlement of the conflict. No improvements were achieved in Rambouillet. But, it is getting to be late", said Mann.

The Ambassador stressed that if the conflict was not solved in 2006 it would be a tragedy then.

"So many improvements were achieved in the past two years. The window is open and it is necessary to reach a consensus. If the conflict sides loose this chance, it will be a real tragedy", he said.

The diplomat stated that the Prague process was set up for maintaining confidentiality to the efforts of both sides to achieve peace, and stressed that everything would be solved by the Presidents and will of the two countries, APA informs.

"I think the Presidents take the mater serious. I believe that the communities of both countries support the idea of peace agreement. I realized in my personal meetings with Azerbaijanis and Armenians that no one wants the war to break out. It is a good fact. But for improvement and removing the differences will is required and this will should come through both of the nation."