MATTHEW BRYZA: THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY IS NOT CLOSED SO FAR

ArmRadio.am
26.12.2006 10:46

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk
Group Matthew Bryza told in an exclusive interview with Mediamax
agency that the " window of opportunity" for settlement of the Karabakh
conflict is not closed.

Summing up the results of the talks in 2006 Matthew Bryza said,
"During 2006 Presidents Kocharyan and Aliyev had three meetings in
Ramboulliet, Bucharest and Minsk. Many hope that after two phases of
negotiations the Presidents will come to an agreement on the principles
of settlement. Unfortunately, the Presidents are not ready for such
an agreement.

You know pretty well what was the reaction of the Co-Chairs: July 3
we issued a joint statement, in which we disclosed the essence of the
basic principles. The publication of the essence of basic principles
was an important step, since we wanted to encourage the Presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan to involve their societies in the complex
but necessary public discussion related to the conflict settlement.

After the break in the negotiation process in summer, during the
past few months the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan
were actively engaged in the talks on basic principles. In Minsk
the Presidents "lit a green light" before their Foreign Ministers
to continue the negotiations in 2007. This is important, since it
means that "the window of opportunity," which we were talking about
in 2006, is not closed. The Co-Chairs will continue working with both
sides despite the fact that Armenia is starting to prepare for 2007
parliamentary elections.

The parties demonstrate a creative approach to agree upon a package of
basic principles, which will be mutually acceptable. I’m not entitled
to speak in detail in which phase the negotiations are today. We
disclosed the essence of the fundamental principles in July and these
remain on the table as a basis for discussions between the sides."