Crossing contact line co-chairs realized it is not a border: Robert Bradtke

OSCE Minsk Group US Co-Chair Robert Bradtke said their recent trip from Azerbaijan to Nagorno Karabakh through the line of contact was an exemplary step aimed bridging the gap between the two peoples, Mr Bradtke said in an interview with BBC's Azerbaijani service.

"Passing through the Armenian-Azerbaijani line of contact in Karabakh we wanted to have them understand that is not a border separating the two peoples," Azerbaijani news website 1new.az quoted him as saying.

"Another aim was to check out the information about violations on the line of contact. During the regional visit, due to the communication with the representatives of both sides I learned very interesting, useful things and realized that a lot needs to be done to reach a common understanding," said Mr Bradtke.

Speaking about territories adjacent to Karabakh he mentioned that they were not inhabited.

"All the trees and plants in the vicinities are cut down. We witnessed what a serious situation has been created there."