ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN CLOSE TO SUCCESS ON KARABAKH – US OFFICIAL
Azad Azarbaycan TV
March 27 2009
[Presenter] Matthew Bryza, the US deputy assistant secretary of
state [for European and Eurasian affairs] and US co-chairman of
the OSCE Minsk Group, says that his meetings in Baku have been
fruitful. Although the diplomat did not fully disclose details of
the talks, he said that several important issues were in the focus.
[Correspondent over video of Bryza speaking to journalists] I
hope that greater success will be achieved in the resolution of
the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict in the near future. Matthew Bryza,
the US deputy assistant secretary of state and US co-chairman of the
OSCE Minsk Group, has made this statement. The co-chairman said he
visited the region to convey US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s
letter to the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers and form an
action plan of the co-chairmen for the near future. The co-chairman,
who travelled via the route Armenia-Georgia-Azerbaijan, said that the
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents are expected to meet in early May.
[Bryza, speaking in English with Azeri voice-over] It will take place
either in Prague or Brussels. Everything depends on the presidents’
will. I held talks in Baku and Yerevan on the resolution of the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. In both letters addressed to the
Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers, Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton said how she wanted to see the peaceful resolution
of the conflict and expressed her support for the Minsk Group. The
secretary of state wants us to make great success in the near future.
[Correspondent] Bryza said that the USA was interested in deepening
political and economic relations and strategic partnership
with Azerbaijan. He said that Azerbaijan and the USA were close
countries. Energy and security cooperation with Azerbaijan, which
is distinguished for its free economy and democratic values, is of
great importance to the USA. The US official said that President
Barack Obama would do everything in his power to help resolve the
conflict peacefully.
[Bryza, speaking in Russian with Azeri voice-over] I am here just for
this reason. I am delivering Washington’s message. It was important to
learn the opinions of [Azerbaijani Foreign Minister] Elmar Mammadyarov
and [Deputy Foreign Minister] Araz Azimov about further steps to be
taken to resolve the conflict. We also discussed preparations for the
presidents’ meeting. The sides are close to achieving clear success
in the resolution of the conflict.
[Correspondent] Bryza said that Washington supported not the opposition
but democracy in Georgia. He said that this democracy was built jointly
by [Georgian President Mikheil] Saakashvili and [opposition leaders]
Nino Burjanadze and Irakli Alasania. They must continue this work
together, Bryza said.