WARLICK'S SPEECH SETS OUT VERY WELL U.S. POLICY REGARDING NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT
Trend, Azerbaijan
May 16 2014
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 16
By Sabina Ahmadova - Trend:
Richard Morningstar, the U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan, has commented
on the speech made by the OSCE Minsk Group's U.S. Co-chair, James
Warlick at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, May 16 the ambassador said he
believes that Warlick's speech is very important.
"I think that the speech James Warlick made is a very important
speech," Ambassador Morningstar said. "I think the speech sets out very
well American policy with respect to Nagorno-Karabakh. It certainly
encourages both Armenia and Azerbaijan to take the steps necessary
the reach the resolution."
The ambassador went on to add that Warlick's speech outlines six
points that are necessary to reach a settlement to the conflict.
"Ambassador Warlick stated very clearly that the seven occupied
territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh should be returned to
Azerbaijan. And also the need to determine the final status of
Nagorno-Karabakh based on self-determination, territorial integrity
and non-use of force," he stressed.
Morningstar also said the negotiations have been going on for twenty
years, adding that this is very frustrating.
"And hopefully we will see actions from both sides," the ambassador
stressed.
Earlier, on May 7, OSCE Minsk Group's U.S. Co-chair James Warlick
presented a speech on the keys to settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.
During his speech at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace,
James Warlick presented a report titled 'Nagorno-Karabakh: The Keys to
a Settlement' in which he outlined six main elements that he believes
any peace agreement must be based on.
James Warlick's report outlined the following elements:
- First, in light of Nagorno-Karabakh's complex history, the sides
should commit to determining its final legal status through a mutually
agreed and legally binding expression of will in the future. This is
not optional. Interim status will be temporary.
- Second, the area within the boundaries of the former Nagorno-Karabakh
Autonomous Region that is not controlled by Baku should be granted an
interim status that, at a minimum, provides guarantees for security
and self-governance.
- Third, the occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh should
be returned to Azerbaijani control. There can be no settlement without
respect for Azerbaijan's sovereignty, and the recognition that its
sovereignty over these territories must be restored.
- Fourth, there should be a corridor linking Armenia to
Nagorno-Karabakh. It must be wide enough to provide secure passage,
but it cannot encompass the whole of Lachin district.
- Fifth, an enduring settlement will have to recognize the right of
all IDPs and refugees to return to their former places of residence.
- Sixth and finally, a settlement must include international security
guarantees that would include a peacekeeping operation. There is
no scenario in which peace can be assured without a well-designed
peacekeeping operation that enjoys the confidence of all sides.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict broke out in 1988 when Armenia made
territorial claims against Azerbaijan.
As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied
20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and
seven surrounding districts.
The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are currently
holding peace negotiations.
The UN Security Council adopted four resolutions on liberation of
the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions; however Armenia is
still not complying with any of these resolutions.
Trend, Azerbaijan
May 16 2014
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 16
By Sabina Ahmadova - Trend:
Richard Morningstar, the U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan, has commented
on the speech made by the OSCE Minsk Group's U.S. Co-chair, James
Warlick at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, May 16 the ambassador said he
believes that Warlick's speech is very important.
"I think that the speech James Warlick made is a very important
speech," Ambassador Morningstar said. "I think the speech sets out very
well American policy with respect to Nagorno-Karabakh. It certainly
encourages both Armenia and Azerbaijan to take the steps necessary
the reach the resolution."
The ambassador went on to add that Warlick's speech outlines six
points that are necessary to reach a settlement to the conflict.
"Ambassador Warlick stated very clearly that the seven occupied
territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh should be returned to
Azerbaijan. And also the need to determine the final status of
Nagorno-Karabakh based on self-determination, territorial integrity
and non-use of force," he stressed.
Morningstar also said the negotiations have been going on for twenty
years, adding that this is very frustrating.
"And hopefully we will see actions from both sides," the ambassador
stressed.
Earlier, on May 7, OSCE Minsk Group's U.S. Co-chair James Warlick
presented a speech on the keys to settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.
During his speech at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace,
James Warlick presented a report titled 'Nagorno-Karabakh: The Keys to
a Settlement' in which he outlined six main elements that he believes
any peace agreement must be based on.
James Warlick's report outlined the following elements:
- First, in light of Nagorno-Karabakh's complex history, the sides
should commit to determining its final legal status through a mutually
agreed and legally binding expression of will in the future. This is
not optional. Interim status will be temporary.
- Second, the area within the boundaries of the former Nagorno-Karabakh
Autonomous Region that is not controlled by Baku should be granted an
interim status that, at a minimum, provides guarantees for security
and self-governance.
- Third, the occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh should
be returned to Azerbaijani control. There can be no settlement without
respect for Azerbaijan's sovereignty, and the recognition that its
sovereignty over these territories must be restored.
- Fourth, there should be a corridor linking Armenia to
Nagorno-Karabakh. It must be wide enough to provide secure passage,
but it cannot encompass the whole of Lachin district.
- Fifth, an enduring settlement will have to recognize the right of
all IDPs and refugees to return to their former places of residence.
- Sixth and finally, a settlement must include international security
guarantees that would include a peacekeeping operation. There is
no scenario in which peace can be assured without a well-designed
peacekeeping operation that enjoys the confidence of all sides.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict broke out in 1988 when Armenia made
territorial claims against Azerbaijan.
As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied
20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and
seven surrounding districts.
The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are currently
holding peace negotiations.
The UN Security Council adopted four resolutions on liberation of
the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions; however Armenia is
still not complying with any of these resolutions.