Turan, Azerbaijan
March 6 2008

US ENVOY CONCERNED AT DEADLY TRUCE VIOLATION IN BREAKAWAY AZERI
REGION

Baku, 6 March: "The USA deeply regrets the deaths in the 4-5 March
hostilities. We are calling on thegovernments of Armenia and
Azerbaijan to make everything possible to observe the cease-fire
regime," US Ambassador [to Azerbaijan] Anne Derse has told reporters,
commenting on the aggravation of the situation in north of Karabakh
[aspublished]. "We think that there is no a military option for
solving the problem and further escalation will pose athreat to the
regional stability. That tragic events have shown once again that the
parties should work with the OSCEMinsk Group to reach a peaceful
solution [to the Karabakh conflict]," she said.

She added that the US administration had had relevant contacts with
the authorities of Armenia and Azerbaijan andthey were notified of
Washington’s clear position. The US co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk
Group, Matthew Bryza, spokeabout this with the Azerbaijani
authorities yesterday [5 March]. Today he is continuing meetings and
talks with theArmenian leadership in Yerevan. The aim of the
consultations is to persuade the parties to restore the cease-fire
andconfidence in each other, Anne Derse said.

[In an earlier report at 1542 gmt on 5 March 2008, Turan reported
that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and USco-chairman of the OSCE
Minsk Group Matthew Bryza had discussed US-Azerbaijani relations, the
current state of theKarabakh peace talks, and energy cooperation
issues in Baku on 5 March.]