MATTHEW BRYZA: THERE IS POLITICAL WILL FOR SOLVING PROBLEM

YEREVAN, JULY 31, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On July 29, after his
meeting with RA President Robert Kocharian, OSCE Minsk Group American
Co-Chairman Matthew Bryza announced that he is satisfied with that
meeting which was useful for him. "I see that there is a political
will for solving the problem, and the philosophy on the basis of our
suggestions is acceptable", said Matthew Bryza to the radio Liberty.

Speaking about the details of the suggestions, he said that still
there are problems connected with Kelbajar and Lachin, as well as
with the referendum. Bryza confirmed that as the co-chairmen affirm,
the Karabakh people should solve the problem of the Karabakh status.

"But the question is whom we should consider the people of
Karabakh. There are also inhabitants of 1988, who also want to take
part in the referendum", said Bryza hinting at displaced Azerbaijani
minority of Karabakh. In his words, "all these problems should be
still worked out as part of the large-scale package of agreement".

"The principles, that today are on the table, are not an agreement
yet, they are only principles, suggestions. So as it is impossible to
avoid the agreement if there is not such", said the American diplomat.

"You are the deputy assistant of the U.S. state secretary and so
the most high-ranking official of the United States who has ever
visited Karabakh, aren’t you?. In response to this question of the
radio station, Matthew Bryza said:" Frankly speaking I don’t know
the history who have visited Karabakh, but I go there not as deputy
assistant of the state secretary but as Minsk Group co-chairman. I
will also visit Azerbaijan, and then I will share my impressions with
the other co-chairmen Bernard Fassier and Yuri Merzliakov."

In response to the question, whether there is a chance to come to
an agreement this year and if this year the problem isn’t solved,
is everything postponed at least until 2009, Bryza said: "Of course,
there is a chance and it would be beneficial for the leaders of the
two countries to participate in the elections after having solved the
problem. But the elections are not an obstacle for the negotiations
process. Simply it is easier to solve the problem at a time when the
political processes have not flamed up yet".

In response to the remark that the Minsk Group has been functioning
for more than 10 years, but the problem is not solved yet, and to the
question whether that group is ready to function for another 10 years,
the American co-chairman said: "We are ready to function as long as
the sides treat the negotiations process seriously. We see that our
friends in Armenia treat the process seriously."

In connection with the democratic state in Armenia, M.Bryza mentioned:
"We hope that Armenia has chosen a right way. The ties between America
an Armenia will be as strong as the democracy will be in Armenia. And
Armenia’s participation in the Millenniun Challenge program is the
best way for America to be sure that Armenia moves forward on the
democratic way. Democracy is a process".

In response to the question whether the expression that there are
more visible tendencies of democracy in Azerbaijan, is ascribed
to him, the American diplomat answered that he did not say such a
thing: "Armenia and Azerbaijan cannot be compared at all. Both have
their advantages and disadvantages. I meant that Azerbaijan doesn’t
correspond to certain standards, but this doesn’t mean that there is
no progress. The tendencies in Azerbaijan are positive over the past
months. The tendencies in Armenia are also positive".