Warlick: "We continue to support an OSCE investigative mechanism as  an important element in ensuring respect for the ceasefire"

ArmInfo. "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," Ambassador James Warlick, US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, says in an interview with Aravot, when asked whether this issue has become secondary to the mediators and has been removed from the agenda.  

When asked whether after the 4-day war in April the parties are now  discussing the issue of recognizing the status of NK, the US Co-Chair  replies: "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." 

As regards the question about discrepancies between Russia and the  West concerning the Karabakh settlement, Ambassador Warlick says,  "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." 

He also expresses hope that the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan  will meet at an early opportunity to discuss the key issues. "There  is no substitute for such face-to-face talks, but the decision of  when and where rests with them," he notes.  

To recall, on May 16, 2016, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the  Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, Secretary of State of the United  States of America John Kerry, and State Secretary for European  Affairs of France Harlem Desir, representing the co-chair countries  of the OSCE Minsk Group, met with President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan  and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in Vienna to advance a  peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.  They  reiterated that there can be no military solution to the conflict.   The Co- Chairs insisted on the importance of respecting the 1994 and  1995 ceasefire agreements. The Presidents reiterated their commitment  to the ceasefire and the peaceful settlement of the conflict. To  reduce the risk of further violence, they agreed to finalize in the  shortest possible time an OSCE investigative mechanism.  The  Presidents also agreed to the expansion of the existing Office of the  Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson in Office. Finally,  they agreed to continue the exchange of data on missing persons under  the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)  to which the Presidents committed during the Paris summit of October  2014. The Presidents agreed on a next round of talks, to be held in  June at a place to be mutually agreed, with an aim to resuming  negotiations on a comprehensive settlement.

On June 20 2016, the Presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia met  in Saint Petersburg at the behest of Vladimir Putin.  Reaching a  settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was the subject of  discussion at the meeting, which took place behind closed doors.   Following the consultations, the presidents of Russia, Armenia and  Azerbaijan adopted a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to  normalizing the situation on the line of contact and giving their  approval to an increase in the number of OSCE observers working in  the conflict zone. The joint statement also expresses the parties'  commitment to putting in place the conditions required for steady  progress in negotiations on a political settlement to the conflict.   The presidents made a point of their regular contacts on Karabakh and  agree to continue them in such format as addition to the efforts by  the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs who were invited to the final stage of  the meeting in St. Petersburg. Meanwhile, Azerbaijani President Ilham  Aliyev said that the investigative mechanisms at the present stage of  the settlement are irrelevant and the issue can be discussed after  "withdrawal of Armenian troops from the NKR". He also stressed that  the Office of the OSCE CiO Personal Representative can be expanded by  no more than 12-13 people.