Leaders close to framework deal: mediator
The US co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group (MG)
brokering settlement to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh has said the positions of the two countries`
leaders are so close that a framework agreement may be signed
soon.
Matthew Bryza told a news conference in Baku last week that the mediators` task in reaching this goal is to encourage the sides to be constructive, while a direct resolution of the long-standing dispute is up to the sides proper.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. The Minsk Group, co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France, is brokering peace talks.
Further, Bryza said he was paying his last visit to the region in the capacities of the US MG co-chairman and the aide to the US secretary of state for South Caucasus and Central Asia. He will be succeeded in the advisor`s post by Tina Kaidanow. "She is a very experienced diplomat," Bryza said.
Kaidanow had served as the US ambassador to Kosovo since last year. The United States was one of the first countries to recognize Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in February 2008.
Bryza did not elaborate on his future diplomatic activity and only said he was looking forward to his work being related to South Caucasus again.
His successor as the MG co-chair has not been named yet.
As for the reports saying that Yuri Merzlyakov, whose tenure as the Russian MG co-chairman has also expired, will be replaced by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigori Karasin, they have not been confirmed. Thus, Armenian media quoted the Russian Foreign Ministry as saying that talk about the mediator`s replacement was nothing but speculation. Igor Frolov, deputy head of the ministry`s press-service, reportedly said that Merzlyakov will continue working in the Minsk Group. As for deputy minister Karasin, he will continue heading the mediating mission on Garabagh settlement.
Matthew Bryza told a news conference in Baku last week that the mediators` task in reaching this goal is to encourage the sides to be constructive, while a direct resolution of the long-standing dispute is up to the sides proper.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. The Minsk Group, co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France, is brokering peace talks.
Further, Bryza said he was paying his last visit to the region in the capacities of the US MG co-chairman and the aide to the US secretary of state for South Caucasus and Central Asia. He will be succeeded in the advisor`s post by Tina Kaidanow. "She is a very experienced diplomat," Bryza said.
Kaidanow had served as the US ambassador to Kosovo since last year. The United States was one of the first countries to recognize Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in February 2008.
Bryza did not elaborate on his future diplomatic activity and only said he was looking forward to his work being related to South Caucasus again.
His successor as the MG co-chair has not been named yet.
As for the reports saying that Yuri Merzlyakov, whose tenure as the Russian MG co-chairman has also expired, will be replaced by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigori Karasin, they have not been confirmed. Thus, Armenian media quoted the Russian Foreign Ministry as saying that talk about the mediator`s replacement was nothing but speculation. Igor Frolov, deputy head of the ministry`s press-service, reportedly said that Merzlyakov will continue working in the Minsk Group. As for deputy minister Karasin, he will continue heading the mediating mission on Garabagh settlement.
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