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U.S. AMBASSADOR SAYS NEW MEDIATOR ON KARABAKH RESOLUTION WILL DO HIS JOB WELL
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Aug 7 2013
7 August 2013, 13:49 (GMT+05:00)
By Sara Rajabova
A new co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group will do his job well, the U.S.
Ambassador to Azerbaijan Richard Morningstar told journalists on
August 6.
He was commenting on appointment of James Warlick as OSCE mediator.
Morningstar noted that the newly appointed co-chair of the OSCE Minsk
Group from the United States, James Warlick, is a very experienced
diplomat.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced on August 5 the
appointment of Ambassador James Warlick as the next U.S. co-chair of
the Minsk Group.
According to Morningstar, Warlick worked as deputy director of the
Afghan Bureau of the U.S. State Department and served as the U.S.
ambassador to Bulgaria. He also noted that he has worked with Warlick.
"I know that James Warlick will be a good co-chairman, he will do
the job well," Morningstar said.
Regarding how appointment of a new co-chair of the Minsk Group will
affect the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Morningstar
noted that the U.S. always backs the positive changes in this issue.
"All our efforts are focused on resolving the conflict through peaceful
means," he underlined.
Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing
of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. Armenian armed forces have since
occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized
territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions,
defying the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on a pullout
from the occupied territories.
Morningstar also informed that the exact date of the visit of the
new co-chair to the region is still unknown, expressing the hope that
this will happen soon.
Ambassador Warlick is due to take up his new position in September.
He most recently served as Deputy Special Representative for
Afghanistan and Pakistan and lead negotiator for the Bilateral Security
Agreement with Afghanistan. He served as Ambassador to Bulgaria from
2009-2012, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau
of International Organization Affairs from 2006 to 2009 and Director
of the Office of European Security and Political Affairs from 2005
to 2006.
Ian Kelly currently acts as a temporary representative of the United
States to the Minsk Group.
Kelly was named as the U.S. co-chair on an interim basis on December
21, 2012, pending the appointment of a new permanent co-chair.
In December Robert Bradtke completed his term as the U.S. Minsk
Group co-chair.
The United States, along with Russia and France, has long been working
to broker a solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through the
Minsk Group, but their efforts have been largely fruitless so far.
Peace talks are underway on the basis of a peace outline proposed by
the Minsk Group co-chairs and dubbed the Madrid Principles, also known
as Basic Principles. The document envisions a return of the territories
surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijani control; determining the
final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh; a corridor linking Armenia
to the region; and the right of all internally displaced persons to
return home.
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Aug 7 2013
7 August 2013, 13:49 (GMT+05:00)
By Sara Rajabova
A new co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group will do his job well, the U.S.
Ambassador to Azerbaijan Richard Morningstar told journalists on
August 6.
He was commenting on appointment of James Warlick as OSCE mediator.
Morningstar noted that the newly appointed co-chair of the OSCE Minsk
Group from the United States, James Warlick, is a very experienced
diplomat.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced on August 5 the
appointment of Ambassador James Warlick as the next U.S. co-chair of
the Minsk Group.
According to Morningstar, Warlick worked as deputy director of the
Afghan Bureau of the U.S. State Department and served as the U.S.
ambassador to Bulgaria. He also noted that he has worked with Warlick.
"I know that James Warlick will be a good co-chairman, he will do
the job well," Morningstar said.
Regarding how appointment of a new co-chair of the Minsk Group will
affect the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Morningstar
noted that the U.S. always backs the positive changes in this issue.
"All our efforts are focused on resolving the conflict through peaceful
means," he underlined.
Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing
of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. Armenian armed forces have since
occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized
territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions,
defying the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on a pullout
from the occupied territories.
Morningstar also informed that the exact date of the visit of the
new co-chair to the region is still unknown, expressing the hope that
this will happen soon.
Ambassador Warlick is due to take up his new position in September.
He most recently served as Deputy Special Representative for
Afghanistan and Pakistan and lead negotiator for the Bilateral Security
Agreement with Afghanistan. He served as Ambassador to Bulgaria from
2009-2012, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau
of International Organization Affairs from 2006 to 2009 and Director
of the Office of European Security and Political Affairs from 2005
to 2006.
Ian Kelly currently acts as a temporary representative of the United
States to the Minsk Group.
Kelly was named as the U.S. co-chair on an interim basis on December
21, 2012, pending the appointment of a new permanent co-chair.
In December Robert Bradtke completed his term as the U.S. Minsk
Group co-chair.
The United States, along with Russia and France, has long been working
to broker a solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through the
Minsk Group, but their efforts have been largely fruitless so far.
Peace talks are underway on the basis of a peace outline proposed by
the Minsk Group co-chairs and dubbed the Madrid Principles, also known
as Basic Principles. The document envisions a return of the territories
surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijani control; determining the
final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh; a corridor linking Armenia
to the region; and the right of all internally displaced persons to
return home.