After Nov. 22 meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents in Munich, OSCE Co-Chairs met the journalists, where they esteemed the recent statement by Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, that there will be use of force unless progress in talks is noted.

According to the RFE/RL, French Co-Chair Bernard Fassier stated: “War is not an alternative in any case. We have repeatedly told the presidents baldly and clearly that our governments in Moscow, Paris and Washington hold the view that the war is not an alternative, as it does not provide for solution to the problem.”
Russian Co-Chair Yuri Merzlyakov also commented on the issue, saying that any statement can be conditioned by internal political situation. “We informed the presidents that at the current critical stage of negotiations it is better to avoid voicing accusations, particularly those on the solution by military means,” Merzlyakov underlined, expressing hope that the sides will take into account the view of co-chairing states.

In the course of the sixth meeting this year, the Presidents discussed the most topical unsettled issues. The progress on certain matters was achieved as a result of 4-hour meeting, meanwhile having a set unresolved. The Presidents instructed foreign ministers to continue cooperation with Co-Chairs on the matters. The next step is a meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers scheduled for December 1-2. For the first time the Foreign Ministers will meet after the Presidents’ meeting.