“No country in the world, including the U.S., has recognized Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state. Thus, we don’t recognize the elections either,” Rudolph Perina, U.S. Temporary Charge d’ Affaire, told “Liberty” radio.
“That is why we did not officially send observers and did not give an evaluation on the elections,” mentioned the U.S. diplomat, adding the following: “But we hope that those elections will in no way impede the talks and that those talks will continue normally.”
Let us recall that Perina was the American co-president of the OSCE Minsk Group in 2001-2004. In response to the question as to whether there is a connection between his appointment as temporary charge d’ affaire in Armenia and the conflict settlement process, as well as whether or not the U.S. wants to speed up the conflict settlement, as Perina knows about the conflict, Perina said the following:
“I was, but no longer am, the co-president, and that is not the reason I returned to Armenia, to speed up the conflict resolution. Perhaps my appointment to this office had something to do with the fact that I have visited Armenia several times as a co-president, and know the country’s authorities. But now we have another co-president, who is actively participating in the talks,” Perina said, adding: “Although I don’t have direct participation in the talks, I would like to assure you that the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a priority for the U.S., because we believe that it is very important for the stability of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the region. We have worked on this issue very actively in the past, and are certain that the U.S. will continue to support the settlement in the years to come.”