Main outcome of Sochi meeting is continuation of negotiation process in three-party format; Armenian analyst says

YEREVAN, January 24. /ARKA/. The main outcome of the latest meeting of Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents in the Russian city of Sochi over Nagorno-Karabakh issue is the continuation of the negotiation process in the current three-party format, Sergey Minasian, deputy director of Caucasus Institute, said to a news conference today.

In a joint statement issued in Sochi, Serzh Sarkisian and Ilham Aliyev said “they expressed readiness to accelerate the achievement of an agreement on the Basic Principles of the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement.” Tthey also stressed the importance of switching to discussions on a comprehensive peace accord based on those principles.

Aliyev and Sarkisian were reportedly close to achieving a breakthrough at their previous face-to-face talks with Medvedev that took place in another Russian city, Kazan, last June. 

"Expectations from the Sochi meetings were modest, however, the main achievement is the decision of the presidents to continue negotiations under the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group," Minasian said.

In this regard, Minasian highlighted the importance of the parties decision to enhance humanitarian contacts, which he said minimizes the possibility of a resumption of hostilities.

He said although it was Medvedev’s "farewell" meeting with leaders of the conflicting sides, Russia's policy in the Karabakh issue will not change, and Moscow will do everything possible to maintain the current format of negotiations, trying to keep a dominant role in the negotiation process.  -0-