U.S. COCHAIRMAN SAYS MINSK GROUP TO WORK TO BRING PARTIES CLOSER TO PEACE

Armenpress
Nov 16 2006

BAKU, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS: In an exclusive interview to Azerbaijani
news agency Trend, the U.S. cochairman in the OSCE Minsk Group,
Matthew Bryza, said he and two other co-chairs from France and Russia
will continue to work relentlessly to bring Armenia and Azerbaijan
closer to peace, regardless of the domestic political situation in
either country.

"We have pointed to upcoming elections in both Armenia and Azerbaijan
in 2007 and 2008 as one of the reasons why 2006 provides an ideal
window of opportunity for concluding a peace agreement between the
two countries," Bryza was quoted by the agency as saying.

"There are, of course, many other reasons why embracing a peaceful
settlement of the conflict sooner rather than later is desirable,
starting with the positive impact such an agreement would have on
securing regional stability and promoting opportunities for economic
growth across the South Caucasus," he added. The U.S. diplomat did not
rule out that the elections in Armenia and Azerbaijan might have an
impact on prospects for a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.

"We hope that impact will be positive and that the population in both
countries will let their leaders and candidates for political office
know that efforts to move toward peace, stability, and prosperity
are welcomed by their publics," he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress