NKR: Statement by Minsk Group chair stirs debate

Karabakh | 08.05.14 | 17:53

NAZIK ARMENAKYAN
ArmeniaNow

GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

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U.S. calls for `bold steps’ from Armenia, Azerbaijan to make peace in Karabakh

At a Carnegie Endowment for International Peace roundtable on
Wednesday American co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick in his
`Nagorno-Karabakh: The Keys to a Settlement’ speech presented three
principles and 6 elements to provide `long-lasting peace’ resolution
to the NK conflict.

Warlick underlined that he did not speak on behalf of other co-chairs
and that his message represented `the US government official policy
while involved in helping two sides to reach peace’.

In the statement that sparked controversy both in Armenia and
Azerbaijan Warlick said that `peace is within reach.’

`The sides have come to a point where their positions on the way
forward are not that far apart¦ There is a body of principles,
understandings, and documents already on the table that lay out a
deal, and no one has suggested we abandon them. The challenge is to
find a way to help the sides take that last, bold step forward to
bridge their remaining differences and deliver the peace and stability
that their populations deserve,’ Warlick said in his long speech that
contained details regarding a possible settlement.

After Warlick’s announcement NK president’s spokesman Davit Babayan in
his interview with Armenpress announced that there exists only one
viewpoint in Stepanakert ` there can be no return to previous borders.

`We follow the NKR Constitution which emphasizes that there are no
liberated or some other type of lands. There is only land ` Republic
of Artsakh,’ says Babayan.

And NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs reflected on Warlick’s
announcement saying that NKR independence and security are exceptional
values, and are not subjected to any negotiations.
`We consider that joint efforts of OSCE Minsk group co-chairs must
concentrate on forming such mechanisms which, taking into account the
existing reality, will provide conditions for peaceful existence of
two independent countries formed as a result of the collapse of the
USSR and the war initiated by Azerbaijan,’ says the MFA announcement.

On Thursday at a meeting with reporters US Ambassador to Armenia John
Heffern said that Warlick’s announcement is connected with the 20th
anniversary of ceasefire agreement signed on May 14, with some
progress in resolution process during the recent months and with this
speech Warlick tried to give a new spin to the negotiations.

`And thirdly, the co-chair wanted to represent the US policy and
distinguish NK main status and the surrounding areas status, because
there is an impression that in the two capitals, in the public, in
Nagorno Karabakh those lands are considered common, however they are
different, and respectively the results must also be different,’ said
Heffern.

Deputy Director of the Yerevan-based Caucasus Institute, political
analyst Sergey Minasyan tells ArmeniaNow that there is nothing new in
this announcement, however this is also related to Ukrainian events.

`This might bring to at least Russia starting a parallel process of
crashing this project and not allowing the US to have any political
projects in the post-Soviet area,’ says Minasyan.
As of Thursday afternoon official Yerevan hasn’t expressed its position yet.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress