TREND Information, Azerbaijan
June 30 2006
Withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from conflict zone would relax
tension in region – US Amb at OSCE Minsk Group
Source: Trend
Author: R.Abdullayev
30.06.2006
The Co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group have led the peaceful dialogue to a
certain stage after which the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia
should make a decision, Mathew Bryza, the USA state secretary advisor
on Europe and Eurasia, co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group, told in his
interview with Radio Liberty, Trend reports.
`My words may urge people to create a condition for healthy debates
in the region,’ told Brysa.
`I am surprised not at the debates, but at the issue that several
persons who are not familiar with the recent statement of co-chairs
of Minsk group in Vienna gave a rapid reaction to the meeting. In the
statement of co-chair, everything was stated obviously, but my
statement was shorter and common,’ Bryza added.
Bryza answered the question `May you peaceful plan statement be
considered part of the strategy on beginning of debates?’ that `May
be yes or may be no. I only gave information on happening events. The
document offered to the Permanent Council of OSCE is open for
society.’
`Co-chairs of Minsk Group used all their abilities and energy to
prepare a `framework agreement’ where the main principles of
settlement found their reflections. The president need time to make a
decision on the agreement,’ stressed Bryza. I’m very energetic and
familiar with the leaders enough. We will continue working with them
and don’t state that the process has been ceased forever. However, we
want to note that the dialogue was held till the definite level,
after which the heads of the conflict countries should themselves
take a resolution.
Touching on the contradictory statements on the conducting of
referendum on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, American co-chair noted
that the sides couldn’t come to an agreement on main principles of
the solution. Therefore, both presidents take responsibility that no
agreement was reached up to now. `I cannot say which president takes
greater responsibility. The presidents may declare that an agreement
was reached on the main principles or may announce that the agreement
was made changes and a packet plan will be prepared,’ told new
co-chair.
At the same time Bryza noted that he withdrawal of the Armenian armed
forces from the conflict zone, undoubtedly, increase the tension in
the region. `Therefore, the issue is important element of the major
principles of resolution. However, stating to Armenians that withdraw
the arms from the region and it will relax the tension in the region
and we will achieve the desired. The Armenians will go to it, if they
will receive anything in exchange. That is the major principle. The
experts are right -the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces will
relax the tension. But they should receive something in exchange.
Therefore, the heads of state ought to take a difficult resolution.
Bryza noted that the demilitarization of the region will be
accompanied with national voting or referendum on future status of
Nagorno-Karabakh.
The problem is linked with coordination of the time parameters for
withdrawal or re-dislocation of Armenian forces with the status of
Karabakh. That’s the major problem complicating the process.
In the end Bryza voiced his hope that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
will be included in the agenda of the meeting of G8 in St-Petersburg.
The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the issue will
be under discussion. `We’d like the issue to be included in the
agenda of the meeting,’ the adviser to the US Secretary of State in
Europe and Eurasia, said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress