Vartan Oskanian, who is accompanying President Robert Kocharian on his official visit to the U.S., told a correspondent for RFE/RL 's Armenian Service in Washington on 29 June that he believes the accession to the Council of Europe of both Armenia and Azerbaijan will have a positive impact on regional stability in the South Caucasus and on the prospects for resolving the Karabakh conflict. Oskanian also said that Kocharian's talks with U.S. leaders were likewise "very important" for the peace process in that they provided an opportunity for the Armenian side to clarify its negotiating position. He said he believes that consequently the U.S. now understands more clearly which proposed solutions could expedite a settlement. The U.S., French, and Russian co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group that is trying to mediate a settlement of the conflict are to travel to Armenia and Azerbaijan in the next few days. LF