US Minsk group co-chair says ‘occupied ‘territories must be returned to Azerbaijan
14.07.2015,
21:18
In an interview with Russian daily Vedomosti the US cochairman in the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick said the ‘occupied’ territories must be returned to Azerbaijani control as part of a comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
YEREVAN, July 14. / ARKA /. In an interview with Russian daily Vedomosti the US cochairman in the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick said the ‘occupied’ territories must be returned to Azerbaijani control as part of a comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
He said the conflicting sides should not focus on one element or a principle of the settlement only. He said the territories must be returned, but there are other factors and that is why the co-chairs advocate a comprehensive settlement.
‘We need to consider a peaceful settlement in its entirety," said the US diplomat.
Warlick said security guarantee is an element of the settlement, which in turn include the deployment of international peacekeeping force, either UN or OSCE, (this should be negotiated and decided by the parties) ‘ to ensure the security of Nagorno-Karabakh."
Warlick said that Washington does not back a specific settlement option. He said if the parties agree to the deployment and the format of a peacekeeping contingent, the US is ready to support this option.
‘But we are not discussing this issue now. We are talking about different versions of security guarantees, as they can be, but so far we have not reached the point where we can talk about the formation of the peacekeeping forces," said the US diplomat.
He said the OSCE has a group of high-level planning, the purpose of which is to develop options for peacekeeping operations.
"This group of military experts already has a number of predefined options that are regularly updated. Their work may serve as a starting point for the engagement of the international peacekeeping force," said Warlick.
He said the year of 2014 turned out to be very dangerous, claming both military and civilian lives on both sides, while the January of 2015 proved to be generally one of the most dangerous months in the last 20 years with a large number of casualties.
"So there is every reason to fear that the conflict could expand. This can also occur as a result of miscalculation, and also because of an armed clash. Therefore, it is important to work together to find a negotiated solution to the conflict and ensure compliance with the cease-fire," said Warlick.
The diplomat also stressed that the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement is not an area where Washington sees problems in relations with Russia.
"On the contrary, this is an area where we work through diplomatic channels to reach an amicable settlement. And we will continue to do so," said Warlick.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict erupted into armed clashes after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s as the predominantly Armenian-populated enclave of Azerbaijan sought to secede from Azerbaijan and declared its independence backed by a successful referendum. A truce was brokered by Russia in 1994, although no permanent peace agreement has been signed.
Since then, Nagorno-Karabakh and several adjacent regions have been under the control of Armenian forces of Karabakh. Nagorno-Karabakh is the longest-running post-Soviet era conflict and has continued to simmer despite the relative peace of the past two decades, with snipers causing tens of deaths a year. –0 –
He said the conflicting sides should not focus on one element or a principle of the settlement only. He said the territories must be returned, but there are other factors and that is why the co-chairs advocate a comprehensive settlement.
‘We need to consider a peaceful settlement in its entirety," said the US diplomat.
Warlick said security guarantee is an element of the settlement, which in turn include the deployment of international peacekeeping force, either UN or OSCE, (this should be negotiated and decided by the parties) ‘ to ensure the security of Nagorno-Karabakh."
Warlick said that Washington does not back a specific settlement option. He said if the parties agree to the deployment and the format of a peacekeeping contingent, the US is ready to support this option.
‘But we are not discussing this issue now. We are talking about different versions of security guarantees, as they can be, but so far we have not reached the point where we can talk about the formation of the peacekeeping forces," said the US diplomat.
He said the OSCE has a group of high-level planning, the purpose of which is to develop options for peacekeeping operations.
"This group of military experts already has a number of predefined options that are regularly updated. Their work may serve as a starting point for the engagement of the international peacekeeping force," said Warlick.
He said the year of 2014 turned out to be very dangerous, claming both military and civilian lives on both sides, while the January of 2015 proved to be generally one of the most dangerous months in the last 20 years with a large number of casualties.
"So there is every reason to fear that the conflict could expand. This can also occur as a result of miscalculation, and also because of an armed clash. Therefore, it is important to work together to find a negotiated solution to the conflict and ensure compliance with the cease-fire," said Warlick.
The diplomat also stressed that the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement is not an area where Washington sees problems in relations with Russia.
"On the contrary, this is an area where we work through diplomatic channels to reach an amicable settlement. And we will continue to do so," said Warlick.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict erupted into armed clashes after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s as the predominantly Armenian-populated enclave of Azerbaijan sought to secede from Azerbaijan and declared its independence backed by a successful referendum. A truce was brokered by Russia in 1994, although no permanent peace agreement has been signed.
Since then, Nagorno-Karabakh and several adjacent regions have been under the control of Armenian forces of Karabakh. Nagorno-Karabakh is the longest-running post-Soviet era conflict and has continued to simmer despite the relative peace of the past two decades, with snipers causing tens of deaths a year. –0 –
