Conflict settlement important for people of Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan

‘The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan were able to talk to each other seriously about the issues and they came out of that, both sides believing that they could work with each other and that there is a way forward. And that was good news for all of us and certainly the good news for the people of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh’, the U.S. Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick said in an exclusive interview with RFE/RL Armenian Service.

‘And what we look forward is to that dialogue continuing, because that’s the way that we can find the way towards peaceful settlement finally. And it really is up to the two presidents. If they have the political will to settle this, to work with each other and find the way forward, then it will happen and the Minsk Group is there to help facilitate the process,’ Mr. Warlick noted.

Responding to the question: ‘ Mr. Ambassador, what is the most difficult issue during these discussions? Maybe you can describe like… what is the issue that you can say… just a principle in general?’, James Warlick said:

‘Well, as you know there are a number of very difficult issues that need to be addressed. There is a reason that this conversation has been ongoing now for 20 years since the ceasefire. These are difficult issues, but, in fact, I believe that both sides can find a way forward that, in fact, helps both sides, that both sides can see a way forward to a settlement that, in fact, no one loses and everyone gains. And with any negotiation that is what we hope for. Not that people – either the people of Nagorno-Karabakh or Armenia, or Azerbaijan – make sacrifices. No, we are not asking that. What we hope is that the sides, all parties will find it in their interest to have a durable, peaceful settlement to this longstanding conflict’.

In response to the remark that ‘most experts, I think, and also media always focus on, maybe, two issues. First of all, as you describe in your statements, as it is being written in these principles of the settlement, that return of occupied territories that Armenian forces are now controlling. The other issue is the referendum, that Nagorno-Karabakh can hold its own referendum and decide on their own fate – whether they want to be independent, within Azerbaijan or with Armenia. These are two most difficult issues’, the U.S. Co-chair replied:

‘Yes, of course, these are very important issues, but let me add one more for you and that is one of trust and understanding. What strikes me is when I am in Baku, when I am in Yerevan and also when I am in Nagorno-Karabakh I find these are good people, all sides. And I understand this – there is a deep mistrust, distrust among all the parties. And I hope that we can find a way, and this is on the people-to-people level, this is not government-to-government and high policy, that I hope Armenians, Azerbaijanis, the people of Nagorno-Karabakh can come to see one another as real people and the human side of this. And I do believe that, you know, on all sides these are good, honest people. You know, these are the people that want the best for their families, for the future, they want peace and prosperity’.

James Warlick underlined that ‘certainly for the people of Armenia and Azerbaijan, and Nagorno-Karabakh it’s very important. And finding a way to a durable peace is extremely important, and the United States wants to help. Look, we want to work through the Minsk Group, we are committed to this format and finding a way. Is there anything that the United States can do on a bilateral basis as well? We stand ready, and I could say that we could have a very good relationship with Russia, with France and the European Union, that we want to find a way forward here, and we would like to find a durable settlement’.

The correspondent of RFE/RL Armenian service said: ‘You recently had around a two-hour talk with [Nagorno-Karabakh leader] Bako Sahakian, if I’m not mistaken, correct me if I am wrong. And you talked with the leaders. But recently you added another group, members of civic society, that’s an interesting part of it. Can you tell us a little bit more why you spend so much time in Nagorno-Karabakh, is there something new?’

The U.S. Co-chair James Warlick replied: ‘I always look forward to traveling to Nagorno-Karabakh and meeting with people there, to hearing their views. And I would say that the Minsk Group listens carefully and we want to take their views into account. On this trip it was a good opportunity to meet with civil society and to hear their views. And the Minsk Group should be open, we should hear from not just the political leaders at the very top, but we should also be open to hearing from the people. And it’s not just in Nagorno-Karabakh itself, but it’s also in Yerevan, in Baku. We should listen to what the people have to say and the way forward that they believe and their concerns and this was a good opportunity in Nagorno-Karabakh to hear from them. And this was the first time that I have met with them, but I can assure you that it won’t be the last’.