"The statement on Karabakh's possible joining Armenia aggravates the tension in the region and is of no benefit," U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish told journalists in Baku when commenting on Robert Kocharian's statement. The diplomat noted that the U.S. government is interested in the continuation of the talks and encourages the Presidents and Foreign Ministers for the peaceful dialogue. When touching upon the forthcoming meeting of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs in Washington, Mr. Harnish noted that the latest statement made by the Co-chairs in Vienna March 2 prove their interest in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement that may be achieved in the near future.
To remind, yesterday Armenian President Robert Kocharian in an interview with the central Armenian and Nagorno Karabakh TV Channels stated that Armenia will de jure recognize the independence of Nagorno Karabakh if the talks reach a deadlock. He told journalists that the "negotiations are going on and there are chances for success."