OSCE Minsk Group American co-chairman Matthew Bryza paid a visit to Armenia on July 29. This was his first visit to the region as a co-chairman and it was just “to get acquainted”. The next meeting will probably be in Paris with all the co-chairmen.
During his visit, Matthew Bryza met with President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan and Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanyan and discussed the recent events concerning the Karabakh conflict settlement. Based on official information, both Oskanyan and Bryza expressed their opinions on the current situation of the Karabakh conflict settlement, went in detail about some of the principles laid out on the negotiation table, as well as exchanged outlooks for the settlement.
After meeting with V. Oskanyan, Bryza headed for Karabakh where he with President Arkadi Ghukassyan. It is worth mentioning that before this, all OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen didn’t used to pay a visit to Karabakh as they arrived to the region. They would simply meet with Karabakh authorities in Yerevan and would reason that they didn’t have time to make the trip.
After Bryza’s meeting with Ghukassyan in Stepanakert, Bryza told journalists that the meeting was rather constructive. He said that he got acquainted with the Karabakh authorities’ point of views for the first time.
“I’m only here to hear your opinions. This is not the kind of visit where I’m going to do something. I must leave for Paris so that I can discuss your opinions and suggestions with the rest of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen.,” said Mr. Matthew Bryza.
In response to the question as to whether or not it’s right to exclude Karabakh from participating in the negotiations, he said:
“Armenia and Azerbaijan have to make a decision on that,” said the American co-chairman.
President of Nagorno Karabakh Arkadi Ghukassyan, however, said that the main topic of discussion was to have Karabakh participate.
“I believe that Mr. Matthew Bryza understands that the conflict can’t be settled without the participation of Karabakh. Of course, we discussed other topics, but the main one was Karabakh’s participation,” said Ghukassyan.
He added that Bryza had gotten acquainted with Karabakh’s thoughts and opinions on different aspects of the conflict.
“I think that Mr. Bryza actually wanted to hear our opinions. I wouldn’t say that there were many objections on his part,” said the president of Karabakh.
Ghukassyan says that he wasn’t expecting much from Bryza’s visit. During an interview with “Azatutyun” radio station after the meeting with Robert Kocharyan, Matthew Bryza said:
“I can see that there is a political will to settle the conflict.”
As for the proposals, Bryza said that there are still some issues to solve regarding Kelbajar, Lachin and the referendum. According to Bryza, the co-chairmen believe that the people of Karabakh must determine the status of Karabakh.
“But the question is whom we should consider the people of Karabakh. There are also people who have been living there since 1988, who would also like to take part in the referendum. We must discuss these issues and come to terms,” said the American co-chairman. So, according to Bryza, the principles being negotiated are simply principles and proposals.
In response to the question as to whether or not there is a chance to see the Karabakh conflict settled this year and if it will be prolonged to 2009 if not, M. Bryza said:
“Of course, there is a chance and it would be nice to see both presidents rest assured during the upcoming elections knowing that the conflict is settled. But the elections don’t stand in the way for negotiations. It’s simply easier to solve these kinds of issues when the politics hasn’t heated up.”
He also said that the OSCE Minsk Group will keep lending a helping hand to the presidents if they are serious. In regard to democracy in Armenia, Bryza hopes that everything is going smoothly.
“U.S.-Armenia ties will be as strong as democracy is in Armenia. The “Thousand Year Challenges” program is the best way for America to see how Armenia is progressing democratically. Democracy is a process,” said the American co-chairman. As for his announcement, that there is a higher democracy tendency in Azerbaijan than in Armenia, Bryza said:
“I have said no such thing. You can’t compare Azerbaijan and Armenia. Each hast its ups and downs. I just said that Azerbaijan doesn’t meet some standards, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t progress. Azerbaijan has been doing well for the past couple of months and Armenia is on its way towards success.”
Matthew Bryza, who is also the assistant to the deputy U.S. Secretary of State on European and Eurasian issues, left for Tbilisi on July 31 where he will meet with Georgian authorities. He will visit Azerbaijan too.