Karabakh settlement envisages return of part of territories around  Artsakh in exchange for its status, Warlick says 

ArmInfo. Meeting of OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Karabakh settlement was very productive, US Co-Chair of OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick said in an interview to Interfax. According to him, there are certain terms of the settlement but Armenia and  Azerbaijan's Presidents lack political will to achieve progress. We  have discussed these terms with Lavrov as well as the ways of working  with the sides for reaching peaceful settlement of the conflict, he  noted, adding that the USA, Russia and France are on the same page on  the issue.  

That is why I think our joint work is very efficient. We would like  to see implementation of agreements reached in Vienna and Saint  Petersburg, as well as a new agreement on further steps towards  peaceful process, the Co-Chair stated. According to him the good news  is that ceasefire period has been established after the April four  day war and in such a climate progress can be reached in  negotiations. That is why we would like to hold another meeting of  the presidents; the Co-Chair noted adding that they will meet with  Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan to lay the basis for the  next summit. 

We hope to see both FMs in New York in two weeks during the summit of  UN General Assembly to discuss the next steps with them. We hope also  that there will be a meeting of the two presidents as well, said  James Warlick.  According to him attempts to reach peaceful  settlement last too long and take much efforts. This conflict can be  settled, we have the terms for settlement and we have discussed them,  he stated adding that the ideal settlement is absence of winners and  losers. At the same time Warlick stressed that Karabakh settlement  envisages return of part of territories around Artsakh in exchange  for its status. 

These were the terms of the settlement, but not the only ones. Return  of refugees, presence of international peacekeeping forces, all these  are the terms of peaceful settlement and they are known. We need to  work with the sides to find a way to unite all these terms and reach  peaceful settlement beneficial for all the inhabitants of the region,  the Co-Chair stressed adding that in the nearest future Minsk  Co-Chairs will visit Artsakh. At the same time he stated that the  Co-Chairs hope that the peaceful settlement process will not last for  years, however no one can anticipate sudden breakthrough on this  issue. According to him considering that the sides have modern  weapons there is risk of conflict escalation. There is a threat of  not just escalation but a mistake which may lead to negative  consequences, the Co-Chair stated. At the same time Warlick stressed  that that the relations Russia and the USA have with the sides of the  conflict differ.  Russia has long term established relations with  both countries and we understand these relations.  The USA also wants  to closely cooperate with Armenia and Azerbaijan but in other way. We  do not supply weapons to any of the conflict sides. We supply only  defensive weapons in very limited quantities. However, in case of  Azerbaijan we have mandate from our Congress banning to supply  weapons, which can be used for attacking Nagorno-Karabakh. Thus, we  are not suppliers of weapons. We consider that we have strategic  relations with both countries, Warlick stated touching upon the issue  of supply of Russian weapons to Armenia and Azerbaijan.  Talking  about the fact that one of the largest US Embassies is located in  Armenia Warlick did not agree with the fact. I think that the area of  the embassy is of middle size. But the size does not reflect  relations. We consider very important cooperation with Armenia in  many sectors, not only within OSCE Minsk Group framework, but in the  issues of economy and investments as well.