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BAKU: US finally tackles Garabagh conflict

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  • BAKU: US finally tackles Garabagh conflict

    AzerNews, Azerbaijan
    Jan 20 2005

    US finally tackles Garabagh conflict

    US and Russian presidents George Bush and Vladimir Putin will discuss
    the Upper Garabagh conflict in Bratislava, Slovakia in February,
    along with other issues, says US Assistant Secretary for European and
    Eurasian Affairs Elizabeth Jones.

    The two presidents will call for stepping up activity in resolving
    conflicts in the former Soviet Union countries, including the
    Garabagh problem, she said.
    Jones also said the Bush administration is concerned over the lack of
    efforts being taken by Moscow in this area.
    "Russia should be interested in maintaining stability in Upper
    Garabagh, North Ossetia, Abkhazia and Dnestr, fighting corruption
    there and driving 'criminal elements' out of power."

    A while ago political analysts voiced their hopes for the settlement
    of the Upper Garabagh conflict, saying that this will depend on
    whether or not Bush will make resolution of conflicts in CIS a
    priority in US foreign policy.
    The United States is obviously keeping in focus the existing
    conflicts in the once-powerful former Soviet Union. Several days ago
    Bush forwarded to the US Secretary of State a memorandum extending
    the suspension of Section 907" to the Freedom Support Act which bans
    direct US assistance to Azerbaijan. The document says that the step
    was taken considering Azerbaijan's support in combating terrorism,
    the interests of the coalition partners, the US extends the
    suspension of Section 907.
    The US president said that this will not impede the
    Azerbaijan-Armenia peace talks and will not be directed against
    Armenia.
    Section 907 was passed in 1992 and suspended for the first time by
    the US president in January 2002.

    'Unequivocally support'
    US Secretary of State Colin Powell, in a reciprocal letter to Foreign
    Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, stated US support for Azerbaijan's
    territorial integrity.
    "The United States unequivocally supports Azerbaijan's territorial
    integrity. The Upper Garabagh conflict must be fully resolved through
    peace talks being held by the two sides, considering their
    positions."
    Powell expressed his gratitude for Azerbaijan's letter, which lays
    out an initiative to discuss the situation in the occupied Azeri land
    at the United Nations. He added that the US is pleased to be a part
    of the fact-finding mission to visit occupied Azerbaijani territories
    [to look into the illegal settlement of Armenians] and is looking
    forward to getting estimates from experts.
    Powell termed as reassuring 'the important steps' taken by the two
    countries during the Prague meetings of Azeri and Armenian foreign
    ministers and those between the two presidents in Warsaw and Astana.
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