By Eva Sahakyan

YEREVAN, September 10 — On September 9, the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) Minsk Group Co-Chairs had a meeting with the Armenian President Serge Sarkisian, marking the end of their regional visit.

During their visit to Armenia, Bernard Fassier (France), Igor Popov (Russia) and Robert Bradtke (United States) presented to the Armenian President the results of their meetings in Baku and Stepanakert, the press service of the Armenian President informs. Once again the interlocutors stressed the importance of the peaceful settlement of the Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) conflict. They also mentioned that the latest ceasefire violations from the Azerbaijani side on the contact line with Artsakh have a negative influence on the negotiation process.

Earlier on the same day, the Co-Chairs also had a meeting with the Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Eduard Nalbandian.

Before their visit to Armenia, the Minsk Group Co-Chairs visited Azerbaijan and Artsakh, met with the authorities and discussed the issues concerning the present situation of the Karabakh conflict and the further steps for the peaceful settlement of the problem.

It’s worth reminding that after the Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations in June, the Minsk Group Co-Chairs released two issue statements, condemning ceasefire violations and demanding the two sides of the Artsakh conflict to respect the ceasefire agreement.

According to the spokesman of the Artsakh President David Babaian, the visit of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs to the region can’t be considered to be a turning point.

“The co-chairs are probably wishing to make some positive steps, but the reality is completely different,” Babaian said during his interview to Radio Liberty.

He also added that Azerbaijan is failing not only the whole process, but the mutual trust as well, which is already on a very low level.

Yerevan Report

Photo credit: Photolur