http://www.hdn.com.tr/n.php?n=us-hails-karabakh-peace-talks-as-8216breakthrough8217-2009-07-14
US hails Karabakh peace talks as 'breakthrough'
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
FULYA ÖZERKAN
ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News
Ahead of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents' key meeting in Russia, US
mediator of the Minsk Group Matt Bryza tells the Daily News that the
strengthening dialogue has brought mediation efforts to a 'new and hopeful
level' and welcomes Moscow's contributions
The United States has welcomed the progress in the peace process between
regional rivals Armenia and Azerbaijan concerning the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh
territory.
"There is a real breakthrough in negotiations," said Matt Bryza, U.S. deputy
assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs. The U.S.
official on Monday attended the European Union's flagship Nabucco natural gas
pipeline project signing ceremony in Ankara, where he spoke to the Hürriyet
Daily News & Economic Review.
Together with Russia and France, the United States is co-chairing an
international panel, the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe, or OSCE, which has sought to mediate the dispute between
the two countries.
The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan are due to meet in Russia on Friday
for the sixth time in 13 months and the third time in three months.
"The OSCE Minsk Group's mediation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is
accelerating. . The increasing pace of their meetings reflects a strengthening
of the dialogue between the presidents," Bryza said.
"These factors have brought our mediation effort to a new and hopeful level. We
hope the presidents' meeting on July 17 will build on the important progress
they made in St. Petersburg on June 4, and clear the way to finalize the set of
basic principles proposed by the Minsk Group co-chairs in Madrid in November
2007."
He stressed President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were
providing their personal support to his efforts as the U.S. mediator.
"The three Minsk Group co-chairs, from the United States, Russia, and France,
work together as a strong and collaborative team. We welcome the important and
positive contributions by Russian President Medvedev," said Bryza.
In recent remarks marking the most revealing announcement to date on the
details of the peace process, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said the
Armenian pullback from five territories was reflected in the Minsk Group's
proposals and only after the complete withdrawal could there be discussion
about the status of Karabakh.
"The question of the phased withdrawal of Armenian forces from occupied
territories outside Nagorno-Karabakh is the first stage. Immediately after the
signing of agreements, troops are slated to be withdrawn from five regions,"
Aliyev was quoted as saying, adding that the withdrawal of forces from the two
regions would take place five years after the initial pull back.
While in London on Monday, Aliyev, who did not attend the Nabucco signing
ceremony in Ankara, instead sending his energy minister Natik Aliyev, said
Nagorno-Karabakh would never be recognized as an independent country.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
