Parties still mulling over Madrid principle to settle Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: MG U.S. co-chair

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.

According to Bryza, the Madrid principles include non-appliance of force, territorial integrity and the right of peoples to self-determination. "We must find a balanced solution to satisfy both sides," he said.
 
U.S. Secretary of State Assistant for South Caucasus and Central Asia Matthew Bryza is visiting

Azerbaijan on Apr. 3. He met with Azerbaijani officials in Baku, including President Ilham Aliyev.

"We discussed security, Nagorno-Karabakh and energy issues with Azerbaijani authorities," Bryza said.

Minsk Group French co-chair Bernard Fassier will visit Baku after Bryza's visit, and co-chairs will again visit the region in several weeks, he added.

As far as opening of the Armenia-Turkey border is concerned, the U.S. diplomat did not rule out that this may impact settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

/Trend News/