US Ambassador: Karabakh Conflict Cannot Have lasting Military Solution

YEREVAN — Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can not have military solution, US ambassador to Armenia, Richard Mills said today during an online news conference.

According to him,the US government is deeply concerned about the escalation of the situation along the border. “The escalation of tragic violence and rhetoric along the line of contact is a source of deep concern to the U.S. government. The possibility of that escalation triggering even through misjudgment or error along the line of conflict is real in my view. That is why the Minsk Group Co-Chairs have urged both sides to take steps to reduce the level of violence along the line of contact, and to implement mechanisms for monitoring the situation,” Ambassador Mills said.

He said this is why the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs urged the parties to take steps to reduce the tension on the contact line and establish a mechanism for tight monitoring of the situation.

“The Minsk Group co-chairs have raised with both sides the importance of investigative mechanisms along the line of contact and other steps to reduce the level of violence. This was discussed between the two Presidents during their meeting in Bern, in December. It is up to the two leaders to reach agreement on such steps. The Minsk Co-Chairs are facilitating discussions that I hope will lead to agreement,” Richard Mills said.

He added that the US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick is working together with other co-chairs for the continuation of the dialogue.

“Although there are some stark policy differences between the U.S. and Russia, we are still able to find common ground and cooperate on other issues of importance to the international community – most notably on the Iran nuclear issue and within the Minsk Group, where I have seen first-hand the Russian, French, and U.S. co-chairs engage effectively,” the Ambassador said.