POLITICS
24.09.2021 | 21:00
I am sure Washington has proposed a number of confidence-building measures, such as removing part of the state border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, even if other issues remain unresolved, American analyst Paul Goble said in a conversation with Factor.am, when asked what the United States has offered Armenians and Azeris.
According to the US Department of State website, a State Department official said the US is going to present its proposals to the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides.
“I think you know that after the Armenian-Azerbaijani war, this spring, the United States tried to be helpful in promoting peace and dialogue between the two sides. Through our mediation, some maps of minefields were exchanged, which the Armenians handed over to the Azeris in exchange for the release of detainees. The question now is whether, with the support of the United States, the other OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, and Turkey, we will be able to do more to further alleviate the tensions between the two countries over detainees, mines, and then help take small steps that may pave the way for a broader process of peace and reconciliation. So, the State Department has made it clear to Turkey — which is very much involved in the process and is a neighbor — that it is going to be useful if possible. Besides, the Secretary of State will have bilateral meetings with Armenians and Azeris this week and will make the same proposal there,” he added.
Speaking about the issue of involving Turkey in the discussions on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by the superpowers, Paul Goble noted that it would be impossible to move on without taking into account Ankara’s views. “But this does not mean giving Turkey an official seat at the negotiating table, but it means that Washington and other capitals will continue to consult with it,” he said, answering the question about the possibility of involving Turkey in the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship.
