US EMBASSY REPLIES TO YAP’S PROTEST LETTER
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
July 3 2007
The US Embassy in Azerbaijan has replied to the protest letter of
the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan Party sent to the embassies of OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairing countries related to the statements by co-chairs
Yuri Merzlyakov and Mathew Bryza in the press conference in Yerevan on
June 7. APA reports quoting the party’s press service the letter of
response written by Donald Loo, charge d’affaires ad interim at the
US Embassy thanks YAP for its concern over the negotiations carried
out through the mediation of the Minsk Group, and stressed sharing
of the views as important factor.
"We share YAP’s views, fair and neutral co-chairs should be in the
Minsk Group. I want to assure you that the United States is committed
to the peaceful solution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict through
the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group," the letter says.
The letter also reminds that Mathew Bryza in his June 11 statement in
St Petersburg said the media released wrong information on his June
7 speech. The embassy stressing that the co-chair’s statement was
misrepresented said Mr.Bryza has never voiced Azerbaijan "occupied"
the part of Nagorno Karabakh.
"The United Nations recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,
including Nagorno Karabakh and the occupied territories," the
Embassy said.
YAP wrote to the embassies that the diplomats from the co-chairing
countries make false statements that harm the negotiating process.
The ruling party called for the representatives of the mediating
countries to refrain from making such statements.
YAP’s press service said the Russian Embassy has not yet replied
to the protest letter regarding Russian co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov’s
statement.