US official discusses Garabagh with Armenian leaders
US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg has discussed the
current state in settling the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over
Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh with Armenian leaders in Yerevan, he told
reporters in neighboring Georgia at the end of his visit to the
region.
Steinberg said his meetings with President Serzh Sarkisian and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian were prolific.
"In my view, everyone realizes that the best way to prevent tension from mounting in Garabagh is reaching agreement between the sides to continue negotiations. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group [brokering peace talks] that we are also represented in have put forth new proposals to achieve progress in the negotiating process."
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 adjacent Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. Despite numerous rounds of OSCE-brokered negotiations, peace talks have been fruitless so far and refugees remain stranded.
The State Department official also discussed in Yerevan the protocols on mending Turkey-Armenia relations signed in late 2009. He said Washington was working to accomplish parliamentary approval of the documents in both countries, "because we think this is crucial for both countries and the region as a whole."
According to Steinberg, President Sarkisian stated that Yerevan was interested in ratifying the protocols.
"We are looking forward to that. I hope that both sides will ratify the protocols. I believe delaying this would not benefit either side. During my meeting with the Turkish foreign minister I will discuss the steps that have to be taken for a speedy mutual approval of the protocols."
Turkey and Armenia signed protocols to establish diplomatic relations and reopen their borders in Zurich on October 10, after decades of hostility. The documents require ratification in both countries’ parliaments. Turkish officials have assured Azerbaijan, Turkey’s ally, that the protocols will not pass in the country’s parliament until progress is made in resolving the Garabagh conflict.*
Steinberg said his meetings with President Serzh Sarkisian and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian were prolific.
"In my view, everyone realizes that the best way to prevent tension from mounting in Garabagh is reaching agreement between the sides to continue negotiations. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group [brokering peace talks] that we are also represented in have put forth new proposals to achieve progress in the negotiating process."
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 adjacent Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. Despite numerous rounds of OSCE-brokered negotiations, peace talks have been fruitless so far and refugees remain stranded.
The State Department official also discussed in Yerevan the protocols on mending Turkey-Armenia relations signed in late 2009. He said Washington was working to accomplish parliamentary approval of the documents in both countries, "because we think this is crucial for both countries and the region as a whole."
According to Steinberg, President Sarkisian stated that Yerevan was interested in ratifying the protocols.
"We are looking forward to that. I hope that both sides will ratify the protocols. I believe delaying this would not benefit either side. During my meeting with the Turkish foreign minister I will discuss the steps that have to be taken for a speedy mutual approval of the protocols."
Turkey and Armenia signed protocols to establish diplomatic relations and reopen their borders in Zurich on October 10, after decades of hostility. The documents require ratification in both countries’ parliaments. Turkish officials have assured Azerbaijan, Turkey’s ally, that the protocols will not pass in the country’s parliament until progress is made in resolving the Garabagh conflict.*
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