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BAKU: Ambassador's statement irresponsible - US Department of State

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  • BAKU: Ambassador's statement irresponsible - US Department of State

    Ambassador's statement irresponsible - US Department of State

    Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
    March 1 2005

    Baku, February 28, AssA-Irada

    The US ambassador to Armenia John Evans's statement that "Upper
    Garabagh can't be returned to Azerbaijan", made during his informal
    meeting with the Armenian Diaspora representatives at a California
    university on February 25, has sparked different responses from
    Azerbaijan and the United States.

    Steve Tike, a spokesman for the US Department of State, regarded
    Evans's utterance as 'an irresponsible statement', which reflects only
    his personal views. "Evans's statement doesn't reflect Washington's
    position. The US stance on the Upper Garabagh remains unchanged",
    he said.

    The United States has repeatedly stated that it does not recognize
    Upper Garabagh as an independent state and supports Azerbaijan's
    territorial integrity, the spokesman added.

    The Azerbaijani ambassador to USA Hafiz Pashayev has discussed the
    matter with US officials, including the US Deputy Assistant Secretary
    of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Laura Kennedy.

    During the discussions, Pashayev said that Azerbaijani and American
    officials are displeased with Evans's statement. "Evans's undiplomatic
    and irresponsible statement on the eve of the next meeting of
    Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers in Prague is unacceptable,"
    Pashayev said.

    Ambassador Evans told a Monday news conference in Yerevan that his
    statement on Upper Garabagh was misinterpreted. "I stated in the
    meeting that the United States recognizes the territorial integrity
    of Azerbaijan and that the Upper Garabagh status issue may be resolved
    by Armenia and Azerbaijan through talks," he said.

    Washginton continues its efforts at settling the conflict within the
    OSCE Minsk Group and considers the meetings held so far by the two
    countries' foreign ministers reassuring, he added.*
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