Matthew Bryza: It Would Be Shameful If Minsk Process Stopped

MATTHEW BRYZA: IT WOULD BE SHAMEFUL IF MINSK PROCESS STOPPED

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.08.2007 13:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Any resolution on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
must be compromise. After the June meeting between the presidents
of both countries in St. Petersburg it was not clear if the sides
want to search for a compromise solution. But then I felt that the
leaders still intend to continue works in the framework of the Minsk
process," US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and
Eurasian Affairs, OSCE Minsk Group American Co-Chair Matthew Bryza
stated in Baku. He said, "it would be shameful if the Minsk process
stopped after so many years. We need to use the remaining time before
elections in order to finish the formation of basic principles. Those
principles must be in the framework of the Helsinki act, which will
lead to a peaceful resolution".

Speaking about the latest consultations with OSCE MG Co-Chairs in
Moscow the American mediator underlined, "Yesterday my colleagues
expressed interesting ideas, which have emerged after the
St. Petersburg meeting.

There are only a few complicated moments in this process, which need
to be solved and which can be resolved. Only decision of leaders
is necessary. The Minsk Group can only offer, but the sides are
to decide".

As to Co-Chairs’ visit to Nagorno Karabakh via Azerbaijani territory,
he said, "It is purely a technical issue". "We need to consult
with experts on security issues. Only after consultations it will
be possible to speak about it," the American diplomat said. Bryza
one more time stressed that the Minsk Group countries recognize "the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan", APA reports. "The territorial
integrity is one of the principles, which is reflected in the Helsinki
act. The other two principles are non-use of force and the right to
self-determination and not independence. Self-determination may mean
a lot. The difficulty for al of us -leaders of conflicting countries,
Co-Chairs and nations, is to find a compromise on these issues. But
I believe it is possible to find them. We are close to them. Both
sides must sacrifice something in order to get something," Matthew
Bryza underscored.