WASHINGTON IS PUTTING PRESSURE ON ALIYEV AND KOCHARJAN
by Sohbet Mamedov
Translated by A. Ignatkin

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
Source: Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, No 27, August 4, 2006, p. 2
August 9, 2006 Wednesday

American Chairman Of The Osce Minsk Group Matthew Bryza Revealed The
Content And Fundamental Principles Of The Karabakh Conflict Resolution

Presidents Ilham Aliyev (Azerbaijan) and Robert Kocharjan (Armenia)
are recommended accepting the latest proposals made by the OSCE Minsk
Group for Karabakh.

US Chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group for Karabakh conflict resolution
Matthew Bryza met with Azerbaijani leaders in Baku, the other day.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry announced on the eve of Bryza’s
arrival that he would meet with Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedjarov,
Parliament Chairman Oktai Asadov, and President Ilham Aliyev. The
American diplomat was tasked to persuade the Azerbaijani leadership
to accept the new plan of Karabakh conflict resolution.

As a matter of fact, Bryza’s voyage to the region began with a
visit to Armenia where he also met with the national leadership and
to Nagorno-Karabakh where negotiations with administration of the
self-proclaimed republic took place.

Bryza became US chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group in early summer, right
after the meeting between Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents Aliyev
and Robert Kocharjan in Bucharest. The US Department of State counts
on Bryza to finally make progress in the Karabakh conflict resolution.

Unlike his predecessors and colleagues (Russian and French chairmen),
Bryza does not mind talking to journalists. In his interview with RL
the other day the US diplomat revealed the content and fundamental
principles of the conflict resolution plan Washington wants Aliyev’s
and Kocharjan’s signatures on. "The document is all ready but they
wouldn’t accept it," Bryza said. According to the diplomat, main
clauses of the framework accord stipulate the following: withdrawal
of Armenian troops from the seized territories of Azerbaijan;
normalization of diplomatic and economic relations between Armenia
and Azerbaijan; deployment of peacekeepers in the conflict area;
international economic aid to Nagorno-Karabakh, a referendum on the
status of Nagorno-Karabakh. Bryza strongly advises Azerbaijani and
Armenian presidents to accept the document.

Official Baku does not really object to what the OSCE Minsk Group
offers this time. "Generally speaking, the basic elements of the plan
we discussed at the latest meeting are fine by us," Mamedjarov said.

"As long as the conflict is resolved step by step, on the basis of
internationally accepted principles."

"Any specialist in international affairs will tell you that the
principle of self-determination does not stipulate violation of
territorial integrity," the Azerbaijani minister added. "There are
lots of examples in the world. Consider Tatarstan, Bashkortostan,
Triest, and so on… Chairmen and their countries responsible for
peace know that international laws must prevail."