RAPPROCHEMENT WITH TURKEY MAY FOSTER CHANGE IN ARMENIA’S POSITION

ArmInfo
2009-04-18 14:09:00

ArmInfo-TURAN. The basic principles of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process stipulate necessity of determining the framework of the final
peace agreement, US Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza
said in an interview to BBC Azeri Service.

These principles stipulate return of territories, return of displaced
people to their homes and safety of both ethnic groups of the region.

All this will help to create fair and balanced prerequisites for
progress in determining the political status of the "disputed
territories." Bryza says that the parties yet have to agree on a
number of specific points. As soon as they do, they will be able to
finalize the basic principles. The presidents must take courageous
steps if they really want to achieve final agreement. Bryza believes
that they can do it and the US top officials are ready to help them
to overcome difficulties.

As regards the possibility of opening of the Turkish-Armenian border,
Bryza said that Turkish-Armenian rapprochement might foster evolution
of Armenia’s viewpoints and might contribute to the resolution
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. While commenting on the Azeri
President’s visit to Moscow, Bryza said that one should welcome good
relations between Baku and Moscow as this may help to resolve the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem.