US Garabagh mediator `to be replaced`
The United States will replace its co-chair of the
OSCE Minsk Group, the group of countries seeking to negotiate a
settlement to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh
conflict, an Azerbaijani political analyst has said.
Rasim Musabayov told Lider TV channel that the replacement of the American representative, Matthew Bryza, is due to the increasing workload with his current post of US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. It is unknown, at this point, who will succeed Bryza.
Musabayov went on to say that this year might see substantial efforts to resolve the two-decade-long dispute.
"Last year`s developments indicate that resolution of the Garabagh problem is currently the focus of attention in the international community," Musabayov said. "They realize, even in Yerevan now, that compromise steps have to be taken to move the peace process forward."
Musabayov stressed that following the August military confrontation in neighboring Georgia, Russia`s interest in resolving the conflict has increased as well.
The analyst did not rule out that Turkey would also step up its diplomatic efforts in 2009 to find a solution to the conflict.
"Ankara is currently trying to warm up its relations with Armenia, but this relationship will eventually benefit Azerbaijan," Musabayov concluded.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus republics reared up in the late 1980s due to Armenia`s territorial claims. Armenia has been occupying over 20% of Azerbaijan`s internationally recognized territory since the early 1990s, in defiance of international law. The ceasefire accord was signed in 1994, but peace talks have achieved little.
Rasim Musabayov told Lider TV channel that the replacement of the American representative, Matthew Bryza, is due to the increasing workload with his current post of US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. It is unknown, at this point, who will succeed Bryza.
Musabayov went on to say that this year might see substantial efforts to resolve the two-decade-long dispute.
"Last year`s developments indicate that resolution of the Garabagh problem is currently the focus of attention in the international community," Musabayov said. "They realize, even in Yerevan now, that compromise steps have to be taken to move the peace process forward."
Musabayov stressed that following the August military confrontation in neighboring Georgia, Russia`s interest in resolving the conflict has increased as well.
The analyst did not rule out that Turkey would also step up its diplomatic efforts in 2009 to find a solution to the conflict.
"Ankara is currently trying to warm up its relations with Armenia, but this relationship will eventually benefit Azerbaijan," Musabayov concluded.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus republics reared up in the late 1980s due to Armenia`s territorial claims. Armenia has been occupying over 20% of Azerbaijan`s internationally recognized territory since the early 1990s, in defiance of international law. The ceasefire accord was signed in 1994, but peace talks have achieved little.
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