BRYZA DOESN’T LOSE OPTIMISM ABOUT KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.06.2007 18:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ OSCE Minsk Group U.S. Co-chair Matthew Bryza told
the Russian branch of Voice of America that the sides in the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict are close to an agreement and talks may resume in
autumn. "The Foreign Ministers of the two states have carried out a
great deal of work. I was present at the Saint Petersburg meeting. The
Co-chairs were disappointed with little progress, however, the process
goes on and we are hopeful that the Presidents will meet again in
several months," Matthew Bryza said.

The diplomat doesn’t think that the upcoming elections in Armenia,
Azerbaijan, U.S. and Russia may influence on the Karabakh talks. "We
were anxious on the threshold of the Armenian parliamentary
elections. But the process wasn’t stopped. Of course, any political
campaign reduces the opportunity of political maneuvers, but there
is no reason to think that the presidential election in Armenia will
put an end to the peaceful process," he said.

The Co-chairs have been negotiating on the settlement principles for
two years, according to Mr Bryza.

"These principles will help to finally determine the status of Nagorno
Karabakh via a national referendum that will be held simultaneously
with other significant events, these being re-deployment of Armenian
troops, establishment of corridor between Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh
and deployment of international peacekeepers in the region," the
diplomat said.

When commenting on the proposal to include the Karabakhi side in the
talks, Mr Bryza said, "The Armenian and Azerbaijani government are
negotiating on the issue. Nagorno Karabakh participated in the talks
in past and will possibly participate in future.

Presently the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan should find a way to
breathe life into the process which has already produced effect."