OSCE Minsk Group U.S. Co-chair on Karabakh: ‘peace is possible’

February 4, 2014 - 18:45 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The U.S. Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group posted another message on the progress of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement in his Twitter page.

“Meeting with Azerbaijan President Aliyev today to discuss next steps for a Nagorno Karabakh settlement . Peace is possible,” James Warlick said in his post.

The OSCE Minsk Group French and U.S. Co-chairs, Jacques Faure and James Warlick arrived in Baku Sunday, Feb 2. Meetings with the Azerbaijani President and Foreign Minister are planned for February 3, with the co-chairs to travel to Yerevan afterwards.

As the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry remarked at the February 1Munich Security Conference, “We’re working on Cyprus quietly. You’re not hearing about it. We’re working on Nagorno Karabakh, the Caucasus.”

Earlier, Warlick expressed regret over the deaths at the contact line between the Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijani armed forces.

"Regret another death on Line of Contact. Sides must focus on finding peace; escalation is in no one’s interest," Warlick said in his Twitter post.

In late January, a Nagorno Karabakh army soldier, Karen Galstyan, aged 20, sustained a deadly injury in a sniper attack at the northern direction of the line of contact with the Azerbaijani armed forces.

Simultaneous attempts of penetration by the Azerbaijani subversive groups were recorded on January 19-20 in the north-eastern (Jraberd) and south-eastern (Korgan) directions of the line of contact. The front units of the armed forces of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic noticed the actions of the Azerbaijani subversive groups and started an organized defense in both directions. The rival was thrown back suffering palpable human and material losses. Junior Sergeant Armen Hovhannisyan died from the wounds he received during the exchange of fire in the north-eastern direction.

Also, as a result of the continuous firing from the Azerbaijani side, a 16-year-old girl was wounded in her leg on Thursday, Jan 23 night in Aygepar village of Armenia’s Tavush province. Intensive fire was registered in the direction of Armenian border villages of Nerkin Karmraghbyur, Aygepar, Chinari and Movses, RA Defense Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan told PanARMENIAN.Net

The injured girl underwent a surgery in the hospital of Berd town and later discharged, according to Ankakh.com.

“The Azeris fired upon houses, roofs. Now the firing has stopped,” one of Aygepar residents told Razm.info.

According to Nerkin Karmraghbyur’s page on Facebook, the firing ceased at about 5 am Friday. No one was injured; roofs of some houses were damaged.

Earlier, village administration head Manvel Kamendatyan said that the electricity was turned off to avoid ignition.

Meanwhile, Azeri media outlets spread reports alleging that a woman was wounded by Armenians. However, no official comments followed.

Related links:

James Warlick's Twitter Page

U.S. Department of State

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.