MARIE YOVANOVITCH: US UNCERTAIN WHETHER THE MINSK GROUP REMAINS VIABLE

armradio.am
27.10.2008 14:55

The football diplomacy initiated by the President of Armenia Serzh
Sargsyan is an evidence of the reality that Armenia stands for
peace and cooperation in the South Caucasian region, Secretary of
the National Security Council of Armenia Arthur Baghdasaryan said at
an international forum in Yerevan on October 27. According to him,
the Armenian authorities consider that it’s necessary to take the
path of dialogue when searching for a solution to any issue.

For her part, US Ambassador to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch noted
that the visit of the Turkish President to Yerevan was a really
"brave and very powerful step." "It can be compared with the thaw in
American-Chinese relations in 1970," the Ambassador added. According to
Marie Yovanovitch, it’s obvious that there is certain progress in the
Karabakh issue. The parties are negotiating a concrete document. She
noted, however, that those in the US think whether the Minsk Group
remains viable and whether it’s worth continuing the negotiations in
that format."

According to the assessment of the EU Special Representative for
the South Caucasus Peter Semneby, the South Caucasus region is of
great importance for the European Union. Turning to Armenian-Turkish
relations, he noted that the opening of the shared border between
Armenia and Turkey will benefit both countries. Peter Semneby declared
also that the EU supports the activity of the Minsk Group and aspires
to convince the conflicting parties to reach an agreement.