U.S. WILL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE FOR FAIR RESOLUTION OF KARABAKH CONFLICT, STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.09.2008 16:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The United States is committed to redoubling
efforts to ease tensions and resolve conflicts throughout the
region. Recently, the leaders of Turkey and Armenia took an important
step toward reducing their long-standing tensions, William J. Burns,
Under Secretary for Political Affairs said in a statement before the
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

"We applaud the initiative of Armenian President Sargsyan to invite
his Turkish counterpart to Yerevan, and President Gul’s willingness to
accept the invitation. Their meeting creates a new atmosphere in the
relationship, and gives hope that a long-overdue thaw has begun. The
normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia could also help
open up trade and transportation routes for the entire South Caucasus,"
he said.

Touching on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Mr Burns said that its
costs can still be counted in terms of refugees and displaced persons –
nearly a million altogether – provinces denuded of populations, lost
economic opportunities, and disrupted trade. "The U.S. Government will
do all it can to encourage the parties to show greater flexibility
and creativity in their negotiations. We will do everything possible
to promote a just and lasting settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict," he said.