Deputy Parliament Speaker: Minsk Group Co-Chairs' statement is consistent with Armenian President's statements

YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. Vice-President of the National Assembly of Armenia Eduard Sharmazanov says the statement by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs is in line with the statements by the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan on installation of trust mechanisms and maintenance of the ceasefire. “I have reads the announcement, and I can say that it recalls the statements by the Armenian President. We see that today there is no talk about the new package, the talk is exclusively about those proposals by the President which are the installation of trust mechanisms and maintenance of the ceasefire”, “Armenpress” reports, Sharmazanov stated.

Sharmazanov recalled that he announced after the RPA Supreme Body session last week that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has positively reacted to the Armenian President’s proposals adding that it can already be stated that not only Lavrov, but also the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs gave positive response.

To the questions what is the attitude to Armenian authorities towards the meeting between President of Armenia and Azerbaijan and whether it will take place, Sharmazanov said: “You will be officially informed about the meeting as in previous times. Concerning my personal stance, I stated that the statement of Co-Chairs is very similar to the words of our President. This means that the major part of the proposals made by the President is included in this statement”, Sharmazanov concluded.

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs made a statement where they confirmed their full commitment to mediating a lasting settlement to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. “In light of the recent violence and the urgency of reducing tensions along the Line of Contact, we believe the time has come for the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to meet. Our Foreign Ministers are prepared to facilitate this meeting next week in Vienna. Their main objectives will be to reinforce the ceasefire regime, and to seek agreement on confidence-building measures that would create favorable conditions for resuming negotiations on a comprehensive settlement on the basis of elements and principles under discussion.

There can be no success in negotiations if violence continues, and there can be no peace without a negotiation process. We reiterate that there is no military solution to the conflict”, the statement reads.