Karabakh settlement requires “return of some lands in exchange for status”

PanARMENIAN.Net - The settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict requires the return of part of the territory toAzerbaijanin exchange for the status of Karabakh, the U.S. Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group said, according to Interfax.

In response to a question about the best solution of the conflict for the United States, James Warlick said “it is the same as for the Russian and French sides.”

“For us, the ideal settlement assumes no winners and losers, it must be beneficial to both parties,” he said.

“As a person who has held talks on other issues for years, I can say that talks can’t be successful when one of the parties has to make sacrifices and compromises. Negotiations are successful when both sides win.”

“The settlement envisages the return of part of the territory under Azerbaijan’s control in exchange for the status of Karabakh,” Warlick went on to say.

“These were the terms of the settlement, but not the only ones. The return of refugees, the presence of international peacekeeping forces are also among the conditions for a peaceful settlement, and they are all known.”

Warlick told Interfax no certain date has been agreed for another meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents.

They earlier met in Vienna and Saint Petersburg to tackle the issue.

Speaking about supplying arms to Armenia and Azerbaijan, Warlick said: “We understand that Russia and the U.S. are in different situations. Russia has long-established relations with both countries and is long-time friends with them. We understand these relationships.

“The U.S. wants to work closely with Armenia and Azerbaijan too but in a different way. We do not supply weapons to either party. We supply defensive weapons to them in very limited quantities. Moreover, our Congress has legalized a mandate, disallowing weapons delivery to Azerbaijan which can be used to attack Nagorno Karabakh. Thus, we are no supplier of weapons. We believe that we have a strategic relationship with both countries.”