AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Jan 20 2005
US finally tackles Garabagh conflict
US and Russian presidents George Bush and Vladimir Putin will discuss
the Upper Garabagh conflict in Bratislava, Slovakia in February,
along with other issues, says US Assistant Secretary for European and
Eurasian Affairs Elizabeth Jones.
The two presidents will call for stepping up activity in resolving
conflicts in the former Soviet Union countries, including the
Garabagh problem, she said.
Jones also said the Bush administration is concerned over the lack of
efforts being taken by Moscow in this area.
“Russia should be interested in maintaining stability in Upper
Garabagh, North Ossetia, Abkhazia and Dnestr, fighting corruption
there and driving ‘criminal elements’ out of power.”
A while ago political analysts voiced their hopes for the settlement
of the Upper Garabagh conflict, saying that this will depend on
whether or not Bush will make resolution of conflicts in CIS a
priority in US foreign policy.
The United States is obviously keeping in focus the existing
conflicts in the once-powerful former Soviet Union. Several days ago
Bush forwarded to the US Secretary of State a memorandum extending
the suspension of Section 907″ to the Freedom Support Act which bans
direct US assistance to Azerbaijan. The document says that the step
was taken considering Azerbaijan’s support in combating terrorism,
the interests of the coalition partners, the US extends the
suspension of Section 907.
The US president said that this will not impede the
Azerbaijan-Armenia peace talks and will not be directed against
Armenia.
Section 907 was passed in 1992 and suspended for the first time by
the US president in January 2002.
‘Unequivocally support’
US Secretary of State Colin Powell, in a reciprocal letter to Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, stated US support for Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity.
“The United States unequivocally supports Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity. The Upper Garabagh conflict must be fully resolved through
peace talks being held by the two sides, considering their
positions.”
Powell expressed his gratitude for Azerbaijan’s letter, which lays
out an initiative to discuss the situation in the occupied Azeri land
at the United Nations. He added that the US is pleased to be a part
of the fact-finding mission to visit occupied Azerbaijani territories
[to look into the illegal settlement of Armenians] and is looking
forward to getting estimates from experts.
Powell termed as reassuring ‘the important steps’ taken by the two
countries during the Prague meetings of Azeri and Armenian foreign
ministers and those between the two presidents in Warsaw and Astana.