Azernews.Az

The recent statement by U.S. diplomat Matthew Bryza that the solution to the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh problem begins with recognizing Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity has seriously unsettled Yerevan. Bryza is the US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group brokering a settlement to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh.
Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian complained about Bryza`s statement to US Vice-President Dick Cheney during his visit to the United States on Friday, Armenian media reported.
Sarkisian did not cite any names, but claimed utterances "reminding about Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity, but disregarding other principles" were dangerous. "Such statements result in the emergence of an erroneous perception about the negotiating process."
Last week, Bryza told the BBC`s Russian bureau that the United States considered Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity to be the main principle underlying a solution to the Garabagh conflict. He said Armenia should realize that this principle is pivotal in reaching a compromise and, subsequently, reaching a framework agreement.
The Armenian premier has repeatedly said the Garabagh conflict can only be resolved through the mediation of the Minsk Group. He also said that changing the current format of the peace talks was unacceptable.
At the same time, Sarkisian said Yerevan was ready to continue talks based upon the Madrid proposals, a set of basic principles of conflict resolution submitted by the mediators to the Azerbaijani and Armenian governments late in 2007.
Also, the Armenian opposition has voiced concern over Bryza`s statement. Opposition leader, former president Levon Ter-Petrosian, called on his supporters to rally on Friday to protest Bryza`s move.
The Armenian National Congress has issued a statement saying the protest will be held in front of the Matenadaran Museum.
"So far, no one has put forth a demand to Armenia to recognize Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity," its coordinator, Levon Zurabian, maintained at a recent news conference.
He also criticized Armenian authorities, saying the numerous blunders committed by Yerevan in its foreign policy, in particular in allowing Turkey to mediate the peace process, has led to the issuance of the statements by Bryza.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus republics reared up in the late 1980s following territorial claims by Armenia. Armenia has been occupying over 20% of Azerbaijan`s internationally recognized territory since the early 1990s, in defiance of international law. A ceasefire accord was signed in 1994, but peace talks have been fruitless, so far.