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MATTHEW BRYZA: "THE STATUS QUO IN THE KARABAKH RESOLUTION IS A DANGEROUS STATE"
Today.Az
http://www.today.az/news/pol itics/45421.html
June 4 2008
Azerbaijan
Day.Az interview with US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew
Bryza.
- Do the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs expect the preservation of the
succession in the negotiation process on Karabakh following completion
of the year of the presidential elections in Azerbaijan and Armenia
or there is a threat of starting everything anew?
- Yes, we intend to start talks from the moment, we stopped before
the presidential elections in Armenia.
- Do you still hope for possible breakthrough in the negotiation
process, though this time this the President of Azerbaijan will be
busy in holding the election campaign in the coming months?
- It is hard to say. Yes, the election campaign is starting in
Azerbaijan. President Aliyev will hold an active campaign, visit the
regions of the country. On the other hand, his first meeting with
new Armenian President Serzh Sarkissyan will take place in Saint
Petersburg this Friday, which means that there is a possibility for
holding the talks.
Democracy and election process is the most important in Azerbaijan
and, of course, the head of state should spend much time on holding
the election campaign.
Therefore, it is difficult to answer your question. Anyway, I think
the Foreign Ministers will have no problems in meeting and presidents
may meet from time to time.
- What do you expect from the upcoming meeting of the presidents
this Friday? Can the meeting of acquaintance pave the way for the
breakthrough in the negotiation process?
- Yes, this will be purely an acquaintance meeting and I do not
expect anything else from it. A person should know his vis-a-vis,
with whom he will have to negotiate.
- Do you think it is will possible to attain more in the
Aliyev-Sakissyan format than in Aliyev-Kocharyan's?
- It is impossible to answer this question in advance as the question
is different people, which are, by the way, are very strong leaders. I
think I will be able to answer this question after Friday.
- Are the proposals, presented to the sides in Madrid, still on the
negotiation table and are they approved by the sides?
- This is not the main point. This was just a simple moment in the
negotiation process. Being the co-chairs, we had listened to the
opinion of both sides within a year and decided to put everything
we have heard down and propose a compromise on this bases. There
were moments in this compromise, which were unacceptable both for
Azerbaijan and Armenia, but this is natural. It is necessary to
continue the negotiation process and find common grounds.
- Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Sadikhov said during our
recent talk that the attempt of the world society to replace the
norms of international law with status quo, attained by way of war,
carries nothing positive. What do you think about the non-acceptance
of the compromises in the resolution of the Karabakh problem by
Azerbaijani side?
- I think the status quo is a dangerous state. This is evident when
there is a fire exchange, killing people. As for the victim, it is
hard to say anything. Both sides are victims and these sides should
find common grounds and should come to an agreement, which implies
search of compromise.
I can only say that peaceful contract is not possible withour
concessions. I do not say that only Azerbaijan will have to make
concessions, Armenia should also do it. Compromise is impossible
without it. But this question depends on the conflict parties not on
the co-chairs.
- What you think is necessary for attainment of a mutually acceptable
agreement, along with compromises?
- There are talks, political will, common sense. This means that
the Presidents should create the atmosphere of trust between each
other. We will see whether it would be possible. But I can say for
myself that I will do everything possible to encourage the process.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Today.Az
http://www.today.az/news/pol itics/45421.html
June 4 2008
Azerbaijan
Day.Az interview with US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew
Bryza.
- Do the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs expect the preservation of the
succession in the negotiation process on Karabakh following completion
of the year of the presidential elections in Azerbaijan and Armenia
or there is a threat of starting everything anew?
- Yes, we intend to start talks from the moment, we stopped before
the presidential elections in Armenia.
- Do you still hope for possible breakthrough in the negotiation
process, though this time this the President of Azerbaijan will be
busy in holding the election campaign in the coming months?
- It is hard to say. Yes, the election campaign is starting in
Azerbaijan. President Aliyev will hold an active campaign, visit the
regions of the country. On the other hand, his first meeting with
new Armenian President Serzh Sarkissyan will take place in Saint
Petersburg this Friday, which means that there is a possibility for
holding the talks.
Democracy and election process is the most important in Azerbaijan
and, of course, the head of state should spend much time on holding
the election campaign.
Therefore, it is difficult to answer your question. Anyway, I think
the Foreign Ministers will have no problems in meeting and presidents
may meet from time to time.
- What do you expect from the upcoming meeting of the presidents
this Friday? Can the meeting of acquaintance pave the way for the
breakthrough in the negotiation process?
- Yes, this will be purely an acquaintance meeting and I do not
expect anything else from it. A person should know his vis-a-vis,
with whom he will have to negotiate.
- Do you think it is will possible to attain more in the
Aliyev-Sakissyan format than in Aliyev-Kocharyan's?
- It is impossible to answer this question in advance as the question
is different people, which are, by the way, are very strong leaders. I
think I will be able to answer this question after Friday.
- Are the proposals, presented to the sides in Madrid, still on the
negotiation table and are they approved by the sides?
- This is not the main point. This was just a simple moment in the
negotiation process. Being the co-chairs, we had listened to the
opinion of both sides within a year and decided to put everything
we have heard down and propose a compromise on this bases. There
were moments in this compromise, which were unacceptable both for
Azerbaijan and Armenia, but this is natural. It is necessary to
continue the negotiation process and find common grounds.
- Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Sadikhov said during our
recent talk that the attempt of the world society to replace the
norms of international law with status quo, attained by way of war,
carries nothing positive. What do you think about the non-acceptance
of the compromises in the resolution of the Karabakh problem by
Azerbaijani side?
- I think the status quo is a dangerous state. This is evident when
there is a fire exchange, killing people. As for the victim, it is
hard to say anything. Both sides are victims and these sides should
find common grounds and should come to an agreement, which implies
search of compromise.
I can only say that peaceful contract is not possible withour
concessions. I do not say that only Azerbaijan will have to make
concessions, Armenia should also do it. Compromise is impossible
without it. But this question depends on the conflict parties not on
the co-chairs.
- What you think is necessary for attainment of a mutually acceptable
agreement, along with compromises?
- There are talks, political will, common sense. This means that
the Presidents should create the atmosphere of trust between each
other. We will see whether it would be possible. But I can say for
myself that I will do everything possible to encourage the process.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress