As expected, no serious progress was registered during the Armenian-Azerbaijani-Russian presidential meeting in Sochi, the political analyst Yervand Bozoyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

He stressed that each presidential meeting is a step forward, which proves the negotiations are going on. "Each meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders relieves tension in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, which can be considered progress," the expert said. The trilateral presidential statement on investigation of possible incidents on the line of contact under the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs` auspices is progress as well, Bozoyan said.

"I think the statement will deter Azerbaijan from putting its military rhetoric into practice," Bozoyan said. He stressed that mechanisms of implementing the statement are rather transparent. Bozoyan believes Azerbaijan most probably signed the statement under pressure by Russia and the other OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, as the document will complicate the implementation of Azerbaijan`s military plans.

Armenian News-NEWS.am reminds readers that, after considering the implementation of the Astrakhan statement of October 27, 2010, at their March 5 meeting in Sochi, the Presidents also agreed on additional steps.

The first step is completing the POW exchange process as soon as possible. However, no Azeri POWs are in the Armenian territory now, whereas Azerbaijan is still keeping Armenian POWs.

The second point envisages settling all the disputable issues in a peaceful way and investigating possible incidents on the line of contact with the parties` participation, under the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs` auspices and with the assistance of the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office. According to diplomatic sources, the Azeri leader reluctantly agreed to this point.