Artsakh people`s rights and security can be ensured in Azerbaijan - U.S. ambassador to Armenia

ArmInfo. U.S. Secretary Blinken Antony Blinken has stated that the negotiations in Washington proved constructive and progress has been made, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Kristina Kvien said in an interview with the Public TV of Armenia as she commented on the latest U.S.- brokered negotiations between the Armenian and Azerbaijani FMs.

The U.S is committed to continue the negotiations to ensure a durable and dignified peace in the region, she said.

As to whether peace is possible in the context of Azerbaijan's aggressive rhetoric, blockade of Nagorno- Karabakh, accompanied by the murder of four Armenian servicemen and shooting at civilians, simultaneously with the ongoing negotiations, Ms Kvien said that the conflict has no military solution. The U.S. clearly stated that outbreak of violence does not facilitate settlement and called on all the conflicting parties to settle issues by means of negotiations. Solving all the existing problems is a key to regional peace, and the U.S. is committed to agreements that will bring peace, Ms Kvien said. 

The sides started negotiations and openly discussed the disagreements. The U.S. believes that parties can see the fact that peace is possible and the U.S. hopes to help them.

With respect to the Artsakh people's right and security, Ms Kvien stressed the U.S. clearly stated: a final settlement must imply protection of rights and security of the Nagorno-Karabakh residents.

Ms Kvien strongly believes that the Artsakh resident must feel secure and live a security family life. The U.S. believes that the principles in question must be part of a final settlement, she said.

As to the opinion that such a scenario is impossible if Artsakh remains part of Azerbaijan, Ambassador Kvien said that the U.S. believes it is possible. All the parties must exert effort for it to be possible. The U.S. believes it is the right approach and urges all the parties to combine efforts to ensure these approaches.  The rights and security of the Nagorno-Karabakh population must be ensured, and ways to guarantee them must be found now, Ms Kvien said.

As to a possible dialogue between Baku and Stepanakert, the U.S. diplomat said that Washington regards any dialogue or discussions a movement in the right direction. The only thing that remains is to help the parties to perceive all the existing fears and fid a way to peace that would guarantee the rights and security of the Nagorno-Karabakh population.

As to why the U.S. needs all that - it has no vital interests in the region - and whether its goal is to squeeze Russia out of the South Caucasus, Ms Kvien said that Washington wants Armenia, as a sovereign state, to be independent in choosing its partners and allies and the vector of its development. The U.S. wants peace in Europe and in the South Caucasus and is ready to work with anyone willing to ensure it. In this context, Ambassador Kristina Kvien noted that the U.S. and EU see benefits from peace in the South Caucasus and this the reason for their close cooperation in exerting efforts to establish a durable peace.

Ms Kvien believes the U.S. has most important interests in Armenia, which are in the two nations' commitment to common democratic values. In this respect, Armenia is a bright spot in the region, with its free press and freedom of speech. Armenia is a progressing democracy and the U.S. is willing to assist it on this way, Ms Kvien said.