BAKU (Trend)–The United States considers the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan as a key principle on which the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution should be based, Matthew Bryza, the US Co-Chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, said in an interview with BBC Russia.
Bryza said that the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia reportedly want the conflict resolved as soon as possible. “We think that it is necessary to begin from the principle of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and later, to connect other additional principles in order to bring the negotiations to the framework agreement,” said Brayza.
“According to the law, Nagorno-Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan. But, after all, in order to bring the negotiations to an agreement, Armenia must also agree with this. And we know that Armenia holds other positions, and we must take very creative and constructive approaches so that Armenia and Azerbaijan will find a common language. This is possible, because these interests coincide in some degree,” he said.
Bryza said the work of the Minsk Group is important and that it must continue. At the same time, he praised Turkey’s role in the conflict resolution process, saying that Turkey can play a positive role in the Caucasus. “If Turkey is able to make a positive contribution–we will support this,” said Brayza.
He said that several small problems were left in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement. “There are only several issues, on which decisions must be made. These are difficult questions, which, as always, are discussed at the end of the negotiations. But they can be solved if both sides demonstrate good will.”
The diplomat refused to provide details, saying that the mediators must allow the presidents and foreign ministers of the two countries to hold negotiations.
