Matt Bryza says Baku and Yerevan interested in agreement envisioning return of all lands occupied by Armenia to Azerbaijan

"The Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia voiced their common interest in an agreement envisioning the return of all lands", said Bryza in his interview to Azerbaijan ANS TV channel.

For this purpose, he said it is primarily necessary to coordinate the basic principles of solution. The diplomat noted that the return of all the regions to Azerbaijan must be among the discussed issues, "but here it is primarily necessary to attain an agreement on the conditions on withdrawal and then pass to its gradual executution".

Bryza noted that the issue of Nagorno Karabakh's status was always the biggest cause of disputes.

"The attainment of the agreement between the sides on the final status is the most difficult thing. Both parties will need to take big courageous steps for the attainment of progress to become possible. This is the most difficult stage in our work.

All Presidents, I mean presidents Aliyev, Sargsyan, Obama, Medvedev and Sarkozy can contribute to this work. We must come to the solution to the problem with their participation. But I would like to repeat that this problem has a solution, it is possible and we are moving in this direction. The issue solution will come out of the balanced approach. It must contain the phased way of solution", said the co-chair.

As for the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations and its possible influence on the Karabakh conflict, Bryza said this possible step will open new chances on the way of regional cooperation and the conflict resolution.

He said as a strategic ally of Turkey, the United States support a closer integration of this country with the international community, including with EU membership and normalizing of ties with all of its neighbors.