Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

They said - they have

* Joao Soares

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Joao Soares believes the OSCE pays great attention to the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"We want all parties to underscore that the conflict cannot be resolved through violent means," Soares told journalists today.

"The visit of the OSCE special representative on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict shows that the structure stresses the resolution of the conflict."

"War and violence should be completely excluded," he said, Trend News reports.

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* Elmar Mammadyarov

"Azerbaijan supports the gradual settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, because it knows that it is impossible to resolve all problems within one day," Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told media today.

There is progress in the negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the minister said.

”The Prague Process was launched six years ago. The Madrid principles were approved in 2007. The presidents and foreign ministers have actively met within the last two years. Co-chairmen often visit the region", Mammadyarov said.

According to Mammadyarov, the updated version of the Madrid principles adopted in Athens in December 2009 provides an opportunity to adopt a more extensive document in future.

”Azerbaijan has chosen the diplomatic route and follows it,” the Minister said.

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* OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs

The work with the OSCE Minsk Group (MG) co-chairs is underway and they met with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. Next week they will meet with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian in Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said at a briefing in Moscow today, Vesti television channel reported.

"After the talks, the OSCE MG co-chairs plan to visit Baku and Yerevan in late March - early April to try to bring the sides' positions closer on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution," he added.

According to him, Russia assesses the progress in negotiations as normal. The parties discuss the updated version of the Madrid principles - the main points of the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement submitted by the co-chairs.

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* Goran Lennmarker

A detailed solution to the Karabakh conflict already exists, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Special Representative on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Goran Lennmarker said at NATO's Rose Roth Seminar in Yerevan, featuring 41 parliamentarians from 16 countries.

“There is no need to change the OSCE Minsk Group format of settlement of the Karabakh issue. The question should not be transferred either to the UN or the Council of Europe,” Lenmarker stated.

According to Goran Lenmarker, the Karabakh conflict cannot be considered frozen today. “The conflict cannot be called frozen when 30-40 people die at the contact line every year. It's not clear how many people will still die before the issue is solved,” the OSCE PA Special Representative noted.

“I think a detailed solution already exists. There is not much to do, and the issue is rather a political one. The Armenian side has the will to move toward a solution. I hope Azerbaijan has the same willingness. It's very important to solve the issue soon, not in the distant future. I do not even want to say in the near future,” Lenmarker stated.

In order to be acceptable to the Armenian side, the solution should ensure the security of Armenia and Armenians. It should be one of the main components of the settlement.

"The Azerbaijani side feels a victim of aggression and injustice. They have to feel that the solution is fair to them and their people. We must understand that their feelings and issues should also be taken into consideration,” he noted.

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