The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs hope that the negotiations over the Karabakh conflict settlement will be intensified, Igor Popov, Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, told reporters in Baku on July 23.
APA quotes Popov as saying, "A few days ago we visited Yerevan, met with Armenian president and foreign minister. During the meetings in Yerevan, the current state of the negotiation process on the settlement of the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict and the situation on the contact line of troops were discussed. We have already met with Azerbaijani president and exchanged views on the current state of the negotiation process."
The diplomat also pointed out the meetings held in Vienna. During the meeting of the OSCE Minsk Group Vienna "our colleagues were informed about the discussions," he said.
"We hope that the negotiation process will be intensified. We hope for next meetings. The date of the meetings isn't known yet," Popov said, adding that he has always treated the negotiations with cautious optimism. "I hope for achieving progress in the upcoming meetings. I don't know whether the meetings will be held in August or not, as the vacation period begins. We hope to hold meetings in September," APA quotes the diplomat as saying.
To note, the OSCE MG Co-Chairs arrived in Yerevan on July 20. They met with the President and the Foreign Minister of Armenia. Afterwards, they left Yerevan for Vienna for discussions.
On July 23 morning, the Co-Chairs met with the Azerbaijani President. They are also expected to meet with the foreign minister of Azerbaijan. The goal of the Co-Chairs' visit to the region is to organize the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents' meeting this year to continue the talks over the Karabakh conflict settlement