STEPANAKERT (Noyan Tapan)-The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic will firmly stand up for its independence–and has ruled out the possibility of any progress in relations with Azerbaijan–Karabakh President Robert Kocharian said at a meeting last Saturday with Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe representatives Susan Rejmor Christianssen.
Kocharian noted that Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh are neighbors and the negotiations will lead to civilized relations between the two republics on the basis of equity and mutual benefit.
The problem of guaranteed security for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh is one of the major problems of the peace process. Kocharian spoke in favor of a long-term system of regional security as Nagorno-Karabakh needs firm guarantees.
Christianssen voiced her concerns over the absence of any breakthrough at the negotiations– saying the lack of progress was a result of unwillingness by both parties to compromise.
She stressed the importance of a more intensive quest for mutually acceptable solutions to key issues.
Christianssen expressed hope that the new chairman of the Minsk conference will succeed in finding a solution.
The meeting was attended by Karabakh’s Foreign Minister– Arkady Ghoukassian–and representative of the OSCE chairman for Nagorno-Karabakh–Andrzei Kasprczik