Saturday, December 18 2021 12:49

ArmInfo.Ensuring direct communication between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan is a priority the format of the meeting is secondary. James Warlick, the  former co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group from the United States,  expressed a similar point of view in an interview with the Voice of  America.

"The issue of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh is a priority. It cannot  be considered closed because of the war, since it is impossible to  talk about any lasting stability without a final settlement of this  issue," the former mediator is convinced.

According to him, the parties currently taking small steps to try to  establish mutual trust. "The recent return of prisoners of war from  Azerbaijan to Armenia and Armenia's transfer of mine maps to  Azerbaijan can be considered in this context. However, the most  important issue regarding the Karabakh settlement is the  determination of the status of Nagorno Karabakh. And I think that the  co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group continue to play an important role  in resolving this issue. I know that Russia has concentrated many  issues in its hands, but I am convinced that the Co-Chairs, the OSCE  and the United States need to step up and move towards a solution to  this global problem once and for all, " Warlick explained, expressing  his conviction that only then it will be possible to achieve  stability in the region. In his opinion, the international community  should take a step and try to resolve the issue of the status of  Nagorno-Karabakh with the help of the Minsk Group, and one should not  think that the Karabakh issue has already been resolved by the war.

Warlick also drew attention to the fact that the United States has  close ties and friendly relations with Armenia: "We are interested in  a good future for Armenia." According to him, Washington also has  interests in relations with Azerbaijan, and new hostilities over  Nagorno-Karabakh will be a blow to everyone

According to the former mediator, the United States has one task that  should be taken seriously, namely, the establishment of a peace  process and a real solution to existing problems. "It will be a long  process, and we understand it, but this is the only way. There will  be no quick wins for anyone here," Warlick summed up.