YEREVAN. – After not having meetings for more than a year, it was important that the presidents [of Armenia and Azerbaijan] spoke face to face and clarified their positions. We believe it was positive that they examined a number of issues.

The presidents expressed a particular concern by the civilian deaths, and reaffirmed their commitment to resolve the [Nagorno-Karabakh] conflict peacefully, Ambassador James Warlick, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group Co-Chair of the US, told 168 Zham daily, the latter reported.

He explained what are the most complicated elements, around which the co-chair urged—weeks ago in [Armenia’s capital city of] Yerevan—to begin negotiations.

The problem-resolving elements which only the presidents can resolve refer to the return of territories to Azerbaijan, and the deciding of the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh.

During the meeting, the presidents had the opportunity to clarify their positions, and we hope that the more frequent meetings next year will enable them to narrow the scope of disagreements, Warlick clarified, 168 Zham wrote.

On December 19, Presidents Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia and Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan had met in Bern, the capital city of Switzerland, for talks