Today.Az , Azerbaijan
April 4 2009

Parties still mulling over Madrid principle to settle Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict: MG U.S. co-chair

04 April 2009 [10:28] – Today.Az

The parties are still discussing the Madrid principles of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, which were presented to them in
2007. There are no new principles, OSCE Minsk Group U.S. co-chair
Matthew Bryza told reporters on Apr. 3.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding
districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in
1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the
U.S. – are currently holding the peace negotiations.

According to Bryza, the Madrid principles include non-appliance of
force, territorial integrity and the right of peoples to
self-determination. "We must find a balanced solution to satisfy both
sides," he said.

U.S. Secretary of State Assistant for South Caucasus and Central Asia
Matthew Bryza is visiting

Azerbaijan on Apr. 3. He met with Azerbaijani officials in Baku,
including President Ilham Aliyev.

"We discussed security, Nagorno-Karabakh and energy issues with
Azerbaijani authorities," Bryza said.

Minsk Group French co-chair Bernard Fassier will visit Baku after
Bryza’s visit, and co-chairs will again visit the region in several
weeks, he added.

As far as opening of the Armenia-Turkey border is concerned, the
U.S. diplomat did not rule out that this may impact settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

/Trend News/

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress