Nagorno-Karabakh solution depends on sides’ political will
By Sara Rajabova
The U.S. mediator, who engaged in peace talks on settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, has said the resolution of the conflict depends on only the conflict sides.
U.S. co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group, James Warlick told Trend news agency on October 23 that the solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict depends on the political will of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents and not on treaties or alliances.
He made the remark while commenting on the possible impact of Armenia's accession to the Eurasian Economic Union on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Warlick further added that the Armenian government has made its decision, which he respects.
"We hope with the recent contacts between the presidents they will commit themselves to a settlement," Warlick said.
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents are scheduled to meet on the initiative of French President Francois Hollande in Paris in late October.
Warlick further noted that conditions along the line of contact and Armenian-Azerbaijani border have stabilized after the outbreak of violence this summer. 'But the situation remains tense," he added.
Tensions along the frontline were aggravated in mid-summer as Armenian armed forces attacked Azerbaijani positions. Sporadic fighting has continued ever since. Fourteen Azerbaijani servicemen were killed and several others injured during the clashes between two sides. Armenia hasn't released the exact number of its casualties.
Armenia occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions, after laying territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor that caused a brutal war in the early 1990s. Long-standing efforts by U.S, Russian and French mediators have been largely fruitless so far.
The UN Security Council has passed four resolutions on Armenian withdrawal from the Azerbaijani territory, but they have not been enforced to this day.