U.S. OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Robert Bradtke spoke of the details of the Karabakh talks.

The U.S. Co-Chair touched upon Secretary Clinton’s visit to the region, saying that it played major role in the approach to the resolution of the Karabakh conflict. The visit reaffirmed the intention of the U.S. administration to assist the sides to settle the conflict, he noted. According to him, at the current stage the sides should look ahead instead of long-term obstacles.

He emphasized that the role of the presidents of the co-chair states should increase. Bradtke pointed out Clinton’s statement, namely sometimes the final steps to peace are the most difficult ones, 1news.az reported, referring to BBC Azerbaijani service. U.S. official stressed that sometimes small steps are of major significance.

As to the negotiation process, Robert Bradtke noted that certain progress has been achieved, adding that the sides agree that the decision should be based on the Helsinki principles. According to him, the parties accept the following 6 points, twice introduced by the U.S., Russian and French presidents: interim and final statuses of Nagorno-Karabakh, the return of the occupied territories, a corridor linking Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, the right of refugees and internally- displaced persons to return, as well as international security guarantees.

The Co-Chair stated that presently 6 elements should be conformed to the Helsinki principles and reflected in the framework agreement which would underlie the final negotiations on the conflict resolution.