He uncovered purpose of his regional visit—to Yerevan, then to Baku and Tbilisi. According to him, OSCE primary issues, NK conflict settlement process are put forward. In the focus of Yerevan dialogue were those topics, and they’ll cover NK issue with RA president, as a primary issue.
Firstly, E.Nalbandian stated that after each negotiation the Azerbaijani side makes statements contradicting the topic of negotiations in Baku. He qualified it as false versions, at the same time hinting that it was expected from the Azerbaijani side.
“The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has the potential to escalate. During Germany’s OSCE Chairmanship we bear responsibility for reducing this danger as much as possible by strengthening the ceasefire, by taking confidence-building measures and by ensuring the imminent start of the negotiations,” Steinmeier told reporters in Berlin prior to his visit to the South Caucasus.
“This information is contradictory what the outcome is, so the MG needs to clarify if the position of the Azerbaijani side has changed, well, then the MG needs to negotiate a way forward. There is so much unclear information here that it’s difficult to say much more on it specifically.”
Bryza stated that the Minsk Group should obviously sit down with president Aliyev and ask him for clarification, because what was announced after this most recent meeting of the presidents, that president Putin appeared in St. Petersburg, that they have agreed to develop that mechanism.
“Parallel to it issue of expansion of the existing Office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson in Office has been covered. The exact number isn’t mentioned, however, I may say that currently 6 people are working, then the number may increase maximum 2-2.5 times, i.e. it doesn’t refer to big mission. OSCE mandate is the same, there are no any changes, only instead of 6 people there will be 12, 13 or 14,” Aliyev clarified.
“Of course, Nagorno Karabakh conflict cannot be settled by one or two meetings, but this was a huge progress. The Presidents try to find ways out during these meetings,” he said. Warlick added that as a result of the talks the parties have agreed upon increasing the OSCE monitoring mission.
“Steinmeier welcomed the recent improvements in the upholding of the ceasefire. There was agreement among the participants of the Berlin meeting that a sustainable ceasefire and a return to political negotiations remain indispensable. Today’s talks also served the goal of co-ordinating possible further steps towards achieving a settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, also with a view to Steinmeier’s upcoming visit to the region,” the statement read.
“Resolution on expansion of observation mission may be considered a progress for the Armenian side. The statement adopted in St. Petersburg as a result of negotiations allows to officially consider “aggressor” the side, which will violate the ceasefire after the summit. Another important result in NK conflict settlement process was maintenance of Russia’s role as a chief player. “
“From formal standpoint this corresponds to the reality, as the meeting launched in Russia’s northern capital, in fact, confirmed resolutions of Vienna summit, which, according to Nalbandian, “Will provide corresponding conditions on resumption of negotiations of issue settlement.” Thus, agreements reached in Vienna and St. Petersburg, which seemingly should be enshrined upon a special agreement, bears technical, temporary nature, which will allow making a shift to more concrete negotiations of settlement.
