Foreign

Home page

Foreign

Matthew Bryza: â€œI have never seen, since my term of co-chair, the period that the presidents be ready to move toward getting the agreementâ€ - EXCLUSIVE

Matthew Bryza: â€œI have never seen, since my term of co-chair, the period that the presidents be ready to move toward getting the agreementâ€ - <font color=red>EXCLUSIVE </font>

14 November 2008 10:30 (UTC +04:00)

-What are the further plans of Minsk Group co-chairs?

-We will travel from here immediately to Yerevan and next Khankendi and if we can then again to Yerevan to share impressions with President Sargsyan about the presidentsâ€™ meeting in Moscow. We will talk through the ideas how to finalize the basic principles the co-chairs recommended in Madrid last November.

-Could the co-chairs co-ordinate next meeting of the presidents?

- We could, but it is too early to say when and where. Probably it will be in December. We have to complete our trip to the region before and to know how the presidents are ready for the meeting. The foreign ministers meet early in December and we will see how the foreign ministers will describe the level of progress. Only after that we can talk about the presidentsâ€™ meeting. I consider the meeting can be in December or early next January.

-Can Russia or Turkey mediate the issue again?

- Russia is a mediator as a co-chair of the Minsk Group. It is actually no accurate to think that Russia could make something unilaterally when hosted the meeting in Moscow. The co-chairs were invited and attended the meeting. There were different meetings. Presidents Aliyev and Sargsyan held a meeting, then President Medvedev joined them and co-chairs attended meeting later and we discussed the Declaration.

-There are several disputed points between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the basic principles and one of these points is the referendum over the Nagorno Karabakh status. Can the co-chairs make decision on this issue?

-First of all the co-hairs will not decide anything. They make only recommendations and listen to what the presidents and foreign ministers respond. These are the presidents to make decisions. It needs to define the details of voting, how and when it will be organized, who will vote. I have no credentials to respond.

-Could the co-chairs reach any progress on the status issue? Are the federative principles possible like Tataristan model?

- We begin discussions from that point that we support the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. The final agreement must include the principles and norms of international law. Armenia cares about the self-determination principle and Azerbaijan considers that it can be only within its territorial integrity. I can not see the final results. I can say only that the co-chairs continue to use their diplomatic skills to assist the presidents to reach an agreement and finally the presidents will make decision.

-Recently the co-chairs increase their efforts and use shuttle diplomacy. What is the purpose of this activity?

-Purpose is clear â€“ to get an agreement. I have never seen, since my term of co-chair, the period that the presidents be ready to move toward getting the agreement. I have seen readiness for constructive dialogue.

-How do you think what are the factors caused such activity of the presidents?

-Of course, one of the factors is that the president changed in Armenia. I respect Robert Kocharian. Sometimes, when the president changes, it causes new chemistry and mutual understanding. The second factor is that Russia invaded Georgia and the region faced with dangerous situation and the people saw how tragic and dangerous the war is. Now Russia tries to correct its international image and organized the meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents in Moscow. We welcomed it. Those objective factors helped to change the situation.

-How do you evaluate the Moscow declaration? Will this document be a crucial moment or next protocol of memorandum only?

-I cannot say how the presidents will ultimately react. It is the first document of this sort. It is remarkable that the declaration was signed. The context of the document is very important, because it shows the presidentsâ€™ intention for peace. It is something the international guarantee. We were stopped a year and the declaration made us move forward.