YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–"Karabakh peace talks sponsored by the OSCE Minsk Group need at least a six-month pause," Hovhannes Igitian–chairman of the standing parliamentary Committee on Foreign Relations said at a news conference Wednesday.
In explaining his opinion–Igitian said that Azerbaijan is preparing for a presidential election to be held this October. Additionally–he explained that the Minsk Group attitude is currently unfavorable toward Armenia. By "a prompt solution to the conflict" mediators imply placing Karabakh under Azeri control. "It is unacceptable that one organization have a biased idea of what the solution to the conflict should be," Igitian maintained.
"It is only through compromises that any dispute can be settled; but first Armenia wants its standpoint regarding mutual compromises–such as territories in exchange for status–to become audible to the `international ear,’" said Igitian. He referred to the example of Israel–a country that has reiterated its strong determination not to withdraw from the occupied territories until firm guarantees of peace are provided.