ArmenPress
Jan 19 2005

US STATE DEPARTMENT COMMENTS OF ELIZABETH JONES’ REMARKS

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, ARMENPRESS: The US Department of State
responded to a wave of protest of Armenian organizations caused by
what they say “highly incendiary” remarks by US Assistant Secretary
of State Elizabeth Jones referring to Nagorno Karabagh’s leadership
as “criminal secessionists.”
The US Embassy in Yerevan has disseminated a statement from
Washington, which says that the US has not changed its policy
regarding Nagorno Karabagh. “The US does not recognize Nagorno
Karabagh as an independent state and neither its leadership is
recognized internationally or by the US. The US defends the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and believes that the future
status of Nagorno Karabagh is to be defined in the negotiation
process in the frameworks of the OSCE Minsk group. The US continues
to actively support the peaceful resolution of the conflict. We are
hopeful of the ongoing talks between Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign
ministers,” the Washington statement says.
According to the Moscow Times, during a video conference the US
Assistant Secretary of State Elizabeth Jones, in discussing U.S.
bi-lateral relations with Russia, called for increased engagement in
resolving regional conflicts in the former Soviet Union. The US State
of Department statement says that Washington realizes that every
conflict is caused by peculiar and unique circumstances.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress