Russian co-chairman of the Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov told “Trend” in Moscow that the recurring meeting of the Armenian and Azeri FMs is scheduled in Belgrade on April 18. The meeting will be attended by the OSCE Minsk group Co-Chairs Special Envoy of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office. Merzlyakov expressed hope that the next visit of the Minsk co-chairmen to the region will take place prior to the next meeting of Armenia’s and Azerbaijan’s presidents, which will probably take place in late May or early June. “It was very pleasant for me to hear Mamedyarov’s announcement, by which Russia is an active party in the negotiation process. I highly estimate the announcement of Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister,” said Merzlyakov. Everything depends upon the political will of the conflicting sides to make a really significant step to come to an agreement, he said. According to the Russian diplomat, if this occurs, very hard work will commence to devise an agreement in which there will be problems and contradictions as well. “However, the main fact is that if we can agree upon these principles, then the key structures of the future conflict settlement will be coordinated and it will secure our successors and the new leadership of Armenia and Azerbaijan from a backward step,” he said. The forthcoming election in Armenia will not prolong this process because it will be continued at the level of Foreign Ministers, according to Amb. Merzlyakov. “I suppose that the death of the Armenian Prime Minister should not affect the negotiation process. I think that the government is temporary, and that means the Foreign Ministers will continue working,” the diplomat said.
