YEREVAN (Armenpress)–Talks being held in Paris between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan concluded on March 5.
French President Jacques Chirac met with Kocharian and Aliyev separately and later held a joint meeting between the three presidents which lasted close to two hours. Chirac commented that the meeting took place in a friendly environment–and that both sides were genuinely interested in holding similar meetings in the future so that a peaceful solution to the conflict can be achieved.
Chirac said he was hopeful the conflicting parties would overcome their differences over the course of this year–and that a peaceful resolution can come about that would be considered fair and mutually acceptable. He promised France–as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group–would do everything it can to help in the negotiation process. Chirac also said France is in close cooperation with the US and Russia–which are the other co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group. According to the French President–the OSCE Minsk Group will soon come up with suggestions that will hopefully be acceptable to both sides.