February 28, 2003 - 19:16 AMT
WASHINGTON CONSIDERS KARABAKH CONFLICT TO BE SOLVED JUST WITHIN OSCE MINSK GROUP FRAMEWORK
The Nagorno Karabakh conflict is being dealt with by the OSCE Minsk group and will be solved exactly in that format. As reported by "Arminfo" agency, US assistant deputy secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs Elizabeth Jones said during a Baku-Washington TV bridge. In her words, in the course of the negotiations between the US and Azeri presidents George Bush expressed support to the Minsk group efforts directed towards the conflict solution and advised Heydar Aliyev to continue meetings with Robert Kocharian on the peaceful solution of the problem. Speaking of the US priorities in the South Caucasus, Jones said that it was first of all the stability of the region. "Energy interests are only part of complex issues resulting from the present situation in the region. Washington comes for economic and political changes aiming at the stability of the region," - the deputy assistant state secretary said.