US mediator, separatist leader discuss Karabakh conflict

Regnum, Moscow
30 Jul 06

[No dateline, as received] "Undoubtedly, one of the main topics of our
discussion was participation of Nagornyy Karabakh in the peace talks
and I think (US co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Matthew Bryza) Mr
Bryza understands that the conflict cannot be settled without Nagornyy
Karabakh. It is not only him, but all the mediators realize this. Of
course, we discussed a number of other issues, but participation of
the NKR (Nagornyy Karabakh republic) in the talks topped the agenda,"
Arkadiy Gukasyan, president of Nagornyy Karabakh told journalists
after his meeting with the US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group,
Matthew Bryza, on 29 July, a Regnum correspondent in Stepanakert
[Xankandi] reports.

Gukasyan said that he had talked about the NKR’s official position
and various aspects of the problem. "I think that it was interesting
for Mr Bryza to listen to us. I would not say that he expressed
serious objections, since our approach was quite logical. Of course,
I cannot reveal all the details of the negotiations because of the
confidentiality of the talks. And it is clear that to certain extent,
our position is different from the mediators’ approach, but I am
saying it again that I have not heard any serious objections," the
head of the Karabakh state said.

Asked about the importance of the US co-chair’s visit to Stepanakert
in terms of quite a long break in visits by the Karabakh mediators,
the president noted that without visiting the NKR and learning the
situation there, it would be hardly possible for the newly-appointed
co-chair to have a full understanding of what is going on in the
region. I did not expect anything from this visit because I knew that
he was not coming with new suggestions but he was coming to listen
to us. And from this point of view, our expectations were right as
we were able to present our positions in full.

[Passage omitted: Gukasyan said he had been invited to talks held in
Yerevan more than once]

"The atmosphere at the meeting was very constructive and creative. We
exchanged our views and looked for a joint approach in order to make
progress," Bryza told journalists in Stepanakert after meeting Arkadiy
Gukasyan last evening.

It should be noted that this was his first visit to Nagornyy Karabakh,
both as an OSCE co-chair and in general. He said that he had come to
listen to the opinion of the local leadership. However, he did not
reveal the details of his meeting with the Karabakh president.

"One should not expect any new elements from me now. I have just
arrived to listen to you. This visit was not paid to make any precise
proposal. I will go to Paris to discuss all suggestions and ideas
with other co-chairs. One should not expect a major step now, but it
might be taken in the future," Bryza said.

The US co-chair declined to answer the question "if it was right to
settle the Karabakh conflict without an involvement of Karabakh?"

But he noted that "the most important thing is to listen to Karabakh’s
representatives. As for the composition of those participating at
the negotiations, both Armenia and Azerbaijan must agree to that,"
Brysza said.

He left Nagornyy Karabakh on 30 July.