The turning point in the negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh problem may occur during the meeting of Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia in St. Petersburg, said Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, U.S. Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza, Interfax reported.
"A lot of work is before them. But on the other hand, they are moving step by step. Maybe they have not done a turning point to the end, but they made the foundation of this, and I hope that in a month when they meet in St. Petersburg, the turning point is possible in the end, "- Matthew Bryza said in an interview with radio station "The Echo of Moscow".
According to him, Russia and the United States are equally suited to resolving the Karabakh conflict. "I always said that we have a complicated relationship with Russia, which regards Georgia, our relations are good and positive on Karabakh," - he said.
According to Bryza, it is necessary to continue problem-solving around Nagorno-Karabakh within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by Russia, the United States and France.
Regarding the U.S. position on the issue of settlement of this conflict, M. Bryza stressed that the final decision must be "balanced" in terms of the principles of the Helsinki Act of 1975, as "self-determination, territorial integrity and the exclusion of force." "Maybe build a balance, but it is a very difficult task, because of that those negotiations are continuing for so long," - he said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.