Domestic

Domestic

US Embassy replies to YAPâ€™s protest letter

03 July 2007 16:27 (UTC +04:00)

The US Embassy in Azerbaijan has replied to the protest letter of the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan Party sent to the embassies of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries related to the statements by co-chairs Yuri Merzlyakov and Mathew Bryza in the press conference in Yerevan on June 7. APA reports quoting the partyâ€™s press service the letter of response written by Donald Loo, chargÃ© dâ€™affaires ad interim at the US Embassy thanks YAP for its concern over the negotiations carried out through the mediation of the Minsk Group, and stressed sharing of the views as important factor.
â€œWe share YAPâ€™s views, fair and neutral co-chairs should be in the Minsk Group. I want to assure you that the United States is committed to the peaceful solution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict through the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group,â€ the letter says.
The letter also reminds that Mathew Bryza in his June 11 statement in St Petersburg said the media released wrong information on his June 7 speech. The embassy stressing that the co-chairâ€™s statement was misrepresented said Mr.Bryza has never voiced Azerbaijan â€œoccupiedâ€ the part of Nagorno Karabakh.
â€œThe United Nations recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, including Nagorno Karabakh and the occupied territories,â€ the Embassy said.
YAP wrote to the embassies that the diplomats from the co-chairing countries make false statements that harm the negotiating process. The ruling party called for the representatives of the mediating countries to refrain from making such statements.
YAPâ€™s press service said the Russian Embassy has not yet replied to the protest letter regarding Russian co-chair Yuri Merzlyakovâ€™s statement./APA/