By Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow correspondent
At the level of different diplomats the United States has made it clear that it will not allow the escalation of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. For this purpose, American diplomats have engaged in intensive consultations with Russia.
There is no and will never be a military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Eric Rubin. As quoted by the Voice of America, he stressed that it is time for the parties to reaffirm their commitment to achieving progress. “It is not easy, and to reach a settlement both sides should make some difficult choices, which is why a settlement has not been reached yet,” he said.
The official also said that the parties should refrain from violence. He emphasized that exclusion of incidents is becoming “a critical issue.”
The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev, are expected to meet in mid-September on the sidelines of the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Hardly anyone expects to see an agreement on the Karabakh settlement being reached during that meeting. But, apparently, there is an intention to persuade the two leaders to sign a document that would exclude the use of force and the escalation of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Despite longstanding efforts of the mediators, Azerbaijan has for many years refused to sign such an agreement.
Experts say that such a document is possible if the United States and Russia agree between themselves. Following the agreement on Iran reached earlier this week, U.S. President Barack Obama said that it would have been impossible without Russian President Vladimir Putin. And Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the main role had still been played by the United States.
Attempts to find some positive ground in the relationship between the United States and Russia can be observed lately and the Karabakh problem is all but the only one on which the United States and Russia, along with France, are working in the same format – the co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group.
American co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick recently visited Moscow, where he had meetings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the Russian capital he also gave an interview to the local Vedomosti newspaper.
The journalist asked the following question: “If we assume that a war breaks out in Nagorno-Karabakh and Russia introduces its forces into the region, what might be the decisions and actions of Washington?” Warlick answered: “I think that the scenario that you have outlined is just what we are afraid of – the escalation of the conflict, which would make the international community face serious challenges.”
Warlick emphasized that it is necessary that the U.S. and Russia now work together on this problem. “I would say that the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement is not an area where we see problems in relations with Russia. On the contrary, this is an area where we work through diplomatic channels to reach a peaceful settlement. And we will continue to do so,” the American diplomat said.