Yesterday finally the Presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia met in Kazan and failed to reach a landmark agreement on the so-called “Basic Principles” of a peace agreement by the OSCE Minsk Group after a summit mediated by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. In a brief join statement was issued after the talks the three leaders reported further progress in the conflict resolution process. The statement, which was circulated by the Kremlin, said Sargsyan and Aliyev reached a “mutual understanding on a number of issues whose resolution would help to create conditions for the approval of the basic principles.” The sides did not comment on the talks. In a joint statement issued after the talks held in the Russian city of Kazan, the three leaders reported further progress towards the conflict’s resolution. But contrary to international mediators’ expectations, they clearly failed bridge all of their remaining differences on the basic principles of a compromise settlement proposed by the United States, Russia and France. In the statement the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan thank the leaders of the OSCE Minsk Group for their efforts in the process and especially signify the efforts of the Russian President. Therefore, no tangible agreement was made during Kazan meeting unless some people consider mutual understanding on a number of issues whose resolution would help to create conditions for the approval of the basic principles a major step forward. On the one hand, it may be considered a temporary achievement. On the other hand, it will be equivocal what the international community is going to do because they were so impatient and optimistic about this meeting hoping that the Presidents would sign a document. After Deaucille statement yesterday’s meeting was really frustrating and the hopes of the co-chairs of the Minsk Group didn’t come true. The consequences will probably become clear today because the co-chairs of the Minsk Group are going to meet first the minister of foreign affairs of Azerbaijan and then the minister of foreign affairs of Armenia.
