BAKU. Feb 9 (Interfax) - An alternation of the OSCE Minsk Group format promoting the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict depends on the conflicting sides, Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Vladimir Dorokhin has said.
"The establishment of the Minsk Group was not a wish of Russia, the United States and France. It appeared because the conflicting sides admitted that this was the best suiting mediation format. If they say tomorrow that they are no longer satisfied with the format and want new intermediaries, it would be a new situation. Conclusions would need be drawn in that case," Dorokhin told Interfax in an interview.
As for the opinion that the conflict has moved to a frozen stage, the diplomat said, "These are mere emotions and conjectures. I'd rather not use the word 'speculation', but speculations also happen sometimes," he said.
"Regarding the assessment of the OSCE Minsk Group's activity, indeed, everyone has the right to do it one's own way," Dorokhin said, commenting on harsh statements of the Azerbaijani administration that the OSCE Minsk Group format had become obsolete and was unable to resolve the conflict.