As AssA-Irada informs, Fried told a news briefing in Yerevan that judging by the meetings held between the two countries' leaders so far, it could be concluded with confidence that the peace process will continue.

"The two presidents are decisively defending their national interests," said Fried.

The discussions held by the two leaders in the French town of Rambouillet in February turned out fruitless, as the parties failed to iron out issues of principle, which was followed by mutual threats.

The US official went on to say that prior to his visit to the region, he and the American co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group brokering the conflict settlement, Steven Mann, met with the two other mediators from Russia and France and obtained their full support. The Assistant Secretary dismissed the assumptions that there are discrepancies among the intermediaries.

Steven Mann speaking at the news briefing concurred that the Azeri and Armenian heads of state are interested in moving the peace process forward. "The United States is ready to support their efforts by all means," he added.

/AzerNEWS/