Bernard Fassier: "In case of the Garabagh conflict we are dealing with the international law, a conflict inside Azerbaijan and an interstate conflict"

"We have already announced that the year of 2008 will be decisive in the issue of Nagorno-Garabagh settlement and that there is a hope to reach a breakthrough in the execution of basic principles".

The due statement was made by the French co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group Bernard Fassier, who arrived in the so called "Nagorno Garabagh Republic" in the framework of the regional visit of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen following the meeting with the president of the self-appointed "republic".

The French co-chairman noted that it is desirable to achieve the breakthrough before elections in Armenia, which is not easy.

"Yet, it would be better to do it following the elections in Armenia or in Azerbaijan. We consider that such possibility exists and we intend to achieve definite results", the French mediator said.

According to him during the meeting with the president of the so-called "Nagorno Garabagh Republic" the sides discussed prospects of the settlement of Nagorno-Garabagh conflict, current situation in Azerbaijan and relations between the countries of the region. Speaking about the prospects of Garabagh's involvement into the negotiation process, Bernard Fassier noted that the said issue had been discussed both in Yerevan and in Baku.

The French co-chairman said it is difficult to state whether Kosovo may become a precedent for the settlement of other conflicts or not. "The situation in Kosovo is quite different. We have mentioned this in Yerevan, as well as in Baku and in Khankendi. Let's take just some of its aspects.

The Kosovo conflict is a conflict inside one country, while in case of the Garabagh conflict we are dealing with the international law, a conflict inside Azerbaijan and an interstate conflict. The situations are quite different", Bernard Fassier announced.

/Day.Az/