March 30, 2010 - 22:23 AMT
US see no alternative to peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict
The United States do not see any alternative to Karabakh issue negotiations, which must lead to peaceful resolution of the conflict, Donald Lu, Charge d'affaires of the U.S. Embassy said.

"Peace negotiations require political will from both sides," he emphasized.

"United States leaders, President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton are committed to resolving this conflict," Trend New cited Donald Lu as saying.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict broke out back in 1991, when, subsequent to the demand for self-determination of the Nagorno-Karabakh people, Azerbaijani authorities attempted to resolve the issue through ethnic cleansings, carried out by Soviet security forces (KGB special units) under the pretext of the implementation of the passport regime and by launching of large-scale military operations, which left thousands dead and caused considerable material damage. A cease-fire agreement was established in 1994. Negotiations on the settlement of the conflict are being conducted under the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen (Russia, USA, France) and on the basis of their Madrid proposals, presented in November, 2007.

Azerbaijan has not yet implemented the 4 resolutions of the UN Security Council adopted in 1993, by continuing to provoke arms race in the region and openly violating on of the basic principles of the international law non-use of force or threat of force.