“The parties are close to agreement over the conflict of Karabakh but it doesn’t mean that we have reached the triumphal victory,” announced the US co-chairman of the OSCE MG, Matthew Bryza. “Certainly the presidents should know each other better and work together. Only in such case they can trust each other. However I can assure that during the past meeting the presidents were not afraid to compromise. Both of them were trying to find out what the other party needs to come to an agreement; they were trying to overcome the disagreements. I feel the positive constructive environment, as well as the real wish of the presidents to finish the work. It is a non-disputable achievement,” said Bryza in his interview given to the radio Liberty. “We are close to an agreement, which will recognize Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, which, by the way, is recognized by the OSCE Minsk Group too. The agreement should also include a provision on self-determination and agreement not to use power. I hope that the agreement will be reached in the second half of the coming summer. I can’t say when it will happen specifically. Everything depends on the presidents, who should come to an agreement over the most essential issues due to our support as intermediates,” said Bryza. “The new administration of the US is still trying to concretize the direction of the foreign policy to be implemented by our diplomats in the Caucasus. But I am sure that the issue of peace agreement over the conflict of Karabakh will be a priority for Obama’s administration. The people who worked in the field for many years were suggested to stay in their positions. The new administration knows perfectly what peace, stability and prosperity in the region of Karabakh mean,” he said and added that the co-chairmen would visit the region definitely in the end of February. “Our purpose is to benefit from the positive results of the presidents’ meeting in Zurich. We, the co-chairmen, should pay attention to the issues the presidents have agreed upon, and suggest several ways to solve the recent disagreements. Currently my colleagues and I are working for that purpose. We want to present our ideas to the foreign affairs ministers and presidents at the end of February, listen to their interpretations and continue our work,” said the US co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group.
