YEREVAN. – The new meeting of presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan may become a start of new phase of peace talks, President of the Swiss Confederation Didier Burkhalter said in Yerevan.
 
During his latest visit to Armenia, Francois Hollande said France is ready to host the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to seek ways to strengthen confidence-building measures.
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office underscored importance of the Minsk Group format. The Swiss president said he respects the format for a solution to this complicated issue.

“This is really complicated, and we do not underestimate its significance,” he said during a media conference.

Didier Burkhalter noted “there were losses, and we do not forget them”, at the same time emphasizing that the status quo is not promising any prospects. He noted importance of heading towards peace by small steps, and Switzerland durin its presidency of OSCE, will take efforts to strengthen ceasefire and promote creation of mechanisms on investigation of border incidents that was welcomed by everyone but not implemented so far (Azerbaijanis side in fact did everything to ruin the initiative – ed.).

The  OSCE Chairperson-in-Office noted importance of finding solution based on the Madrid Principles and international  law.

“We can provide mediation assistance, expert participation, political and financial support. We can do it during the presidency of Switzerland, as well as after, if necessary,” the Swiss President said.

The assistance is possible in the form of measures aimed at improving the atmosphere of trust, people-to-people contacts, environmental issues. Promotion of peace is one of the objectives enshrined in the Constitution of Switzerland, he concluded.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am