US DIPLOMAT SAYS NO ALTERNATIVE TO OSCE-BROKERED KARABAKH TALKS
ANS TV
March 17 2008
Azerbaijan
[Presenter] The USA’s important role for Azerbaijan is that, as one of
the co-chairs the OSCE Minsk Group [whichmediates a solution to the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict], it can directly influence the speeding
up of the negotiatingprocess in the issue of our country’s territorial
integrity. The head of the [Azerbaijani] Foreign Ministry pressservice,
Xazar Ibrahim, has said this when talking about US-Azerbaijani
relations.
We should note that today marks the 15th anniversary of the
establishment of diplomatic relations between the USA andAzerbaijan.
[Passage omitted: on Azeri-US relations in various spheres]
[Correspondent] The resolutions adopted at the UN on the Nagornyy
Karabakh problem settlement are ineffective. Thehead of the US embassy
public relations department, Jonathan Henick, says that although
the UN adopted the resolutions, it is not in a position to implement
them. According to Jonathan Henick, there are hundreds of resolutions
adopted atthe UN which have not been implemented. As an example,
he recalled resolutions on the settlement of theIsraeli-Palestinian
conflict. The US embassy official believes that the most effective
way in the Nagornyy Karabakhproblem settlement is the OSCE Minsk
Group’s peace process.
[Henick, in Azeri] This is not a very easy process. Despite this
I believe that this work is very important becausethere are no
alternatives. If the conflict [war] resumes, this will be a catastrophe
for Azerbaijan, Armenia and thewhole region.
[Correspondent] At the same time, Jonathan Henick says that the
resolution of the Nagornyy Karabakh problem does not depend only on
the USA or the other co-chair countries [Russia and France] and that
greater responsibility lies withArmenia and Azerbaijan in this issue.
[Henick, in Azeri] Naturally, the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides should
be prepared to make concessions. Naturally,by saying concessions I do
not mean that Azerbaijan should sacrifice its national interests. But
at the same time, weshould try to find creative solutions. What do
we want – we want this problem to be resolved and all refugees to
return to their homes.
[Correspondent] The embassy representative, who wants the problem to be
resolved soon, stressed that this will befavourable for the development
of the region and for benefiting from the region’s potential.