In a statement posted on July 3 on the website of the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan, the French, Russian, and U.S. co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group again called upon the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to demonstrate the \"political will\" necessary to reach a formal solution of the Karabakh conflict, RFE/RL\'s Armenian Service reported on July 4. The statement said the co-chairs believe that the proposals developed during negotiations over the past two years \"hold the best potential\" for reaching such a settlement. On July 5, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian told journalists in Yerevan that the Armenian leadership considers the principles under discussion \"acceptable\" and is prepared to continue discussing them, according to \"Azg,\" as reposted by Groong. But Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov denied on July 3 either that any draft framework document exists, or that Azerbaijan has agreed that the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh should be decided by a referendum or vote among the disputed region\'s population. (RFE/RL)