The U.S. Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group expressed concern that while the attention if the international community is focused on Ukraine, violence may flare in Karabakh.
“I have heard concerns that, while attention focuses on Ukraine, violence could escalate between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Should we worry?” James Warlick tweeted.
Ukraine saw a change of power, complete with signs of a coup on February 22. Rada stripped President Viktor Yanukovych of powers, altered constitution, putting parliament speaker Alexander Turchinov in charge of presidential duties with the elections scheduled for May 25. Yanukovych stated that he left Ukraine under duress and remains the legally elected leader of the state.
A number of regions in the eastern and southern Ukraine didn't recognize the legitimacy of Rada's decisions, declaring Yanukovych's ouster illegal, and announcing a March 16 referendum to determine their fate.
Warlick also commented on the March 10 meeting with the Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.
“Productive talks with Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister on key issues and the way forward on a negotiated settlement,” the Co-chair said in his Twitter post.
He further expressed hope for Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders to meet in March. “Only they can address the most difficult issues of peace,” Warlick tweeted.
As Edward Nalbandian stated at a news conference with his Serbian counterpart, a meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs Igor Popov, Jacques Faure and James Warlick has been scheduled for March 11 with the Group's mediation activities ongoing.
In an earlier interview with APA, Russian Co-chair Igor Popov pointed out positive aspects in the conflict settlement talks. However, he said, approximation of positions remains a hard task. "After a long break, another meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia was held in Vienna on November 19, 2013. They discussed a range of issues on the settlement of Karabakh problem. The two sides decided to accelerate the process of negotiations. The main directions that require special attention were determined.
Ministers of Foreign Affairs were given relevant instructions, consultations were carried out on the basis of the instructions. Elmar Mammadyarov and Edward Nalbandian met twice. The most contentious issues were discussed in details at these meetings. The negotiations show that there are positive aspects. However, it is not so easy to bring closer the positions of the parties. Difficulties in the negotiation process correspond to the complexity of the conflict. The parties intend to move forward. We are currently conducting consultations with our French and American colleagues, ministers separately.
We met with Nalbandian on February 22. We plan to meet Mammadyarov in the near future. If we achieve options that will satisfy the parties, joint meetings will be accessible, first at the ministerial level, and then the issue of summit will be considered, as agreed by the presidents in Vienna. We will continue our consultations in the region," Popov said.
