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U.S. top official: Positive trends observed in negotiations on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict Materials 25 February 2011 11:37 (UTC +04:00)
Positive trends have been observed in talks on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in recent weeks, and the United States will contribute to the further development of these trends, U.S. First Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg said.
U.S. top official: Positive trends observed in negotiations on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb.25 / Trend /

Positive trends have been observed in talks on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in recent weeks, and the United States will contribute to the further development of these trends, U.S. First Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg said.

According to Mediamax, the U.S. diplomat made the statement on the Armenian Kentron television channel on Thursday.

Steinberg said the OSCE Minsk Group's work is a primary directions of U.S. foreign policy.
Steinberg and U.S. Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasian Affairs Phillip Gordon paid a regional visit to all three South Caucasus republics on Feb.23-24.

The U.S. diplomat did not agree with the idea that Russia has assumed a dominant role in the process of settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, adding that the last statement on Karabakh was made jointly in Astana.

"Of course, Russia's activity in this issue is welcome, but all three countries-co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group are active and contribute to the conflict resolution," Steinberg said, while stressing that there is no rivalry between the Minsk Group co-chair countries.

"We believe that a peaceful diplomatic way is the only way for a settlement, and we try to convey this message to both sides," Steinberg said, stressing that the peaceful settlement of the problem is in the interests of all regional players.

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.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.

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