Exclusive Interview with Ambassador James Warlick, U.S. Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group
– After the recent visit of MG Co-Chairs to the region we were left with the impression that the mediators are less insistent on their proposal of investigative mechanisms and are rather focused on expanding the existing office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office. We are aware that official Baku was not in support of the proposal for investigative mechanism. Has this issue [of investigative mechanism] become secondary to the mediators and been removed from the agenda?
– We continue to support an OSCE investigative mechanism as an important element in ensuring respect for the ceasefire as negotiations that can lead to a settlement proceed. We are committed to the development of a sound plan and continue to raise it with the sides and in Vienna.
– In your press conference in Yerevan you clearly pointed out the need for honest discussions on the status of NK and both in Yerevan and Baku you welcomed the statement of Azerbaijani president on providing some sort of autonomy to NK as a starting point for discussions on NK status. Could we state that after the 4-day war in April the parties are now discussing the issue of recognizing the status of NK and Azerbaijani authorities are looking into that issue?
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– It is important to understand that a settlement needs to address many elements. These include status for Nagorno-Karabakh, but also the return of territory to Azerbaijan’s control, the deployment of international peacekeepers, the return of IDPs and refugees, the restoration of infrastructure and telecommunication links, and other issues. We believe an honest public discussion about status is a helpful step.
– On October 12, 2016 at the plenary session of the PACE Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said. “Russia has made some reasonable proposals, including removal of Armenians from 5 occupied Azerbaijani territories. This option is being discussed now”. It would be interesting to know if there is a separate Russian plan for NK settlement or “Lavrov’s plan”, as we are referring to it, or those are just speculations regarding the existing active efforts of Russia. We’ve recently witnessed a great deal of serious controversy between Russia and the West. However, there have been constant reassurances that in the MG the U.S. and Russia share the same goals and they work well in this format. The question is: are there any differences on NK settlement between the U.S. and Russia?
– The channel for mediation of the conflict accepted by the parties is through the OSCE Minsk Group and its Co-Chairs. Russia, France, and the U.S. have made clear that we are committed to working together to help find a peaceful settlement. We have worked together on the proposals and ideas under discussion, and will continue to cooperate closely.
– Is there any news on time and venue of the meeting between presidents Sargsyan and Aliyev?
– We hope the two Presidents will meet at an early opportunity to discuss key issues. There is no substitute for such face-to-face talks, but the decision of when and where rests with them.
EMMA GABRIELYAN
