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Recent talks between the presidents in Vienna and the foreign ministers in Kyiv have shown that the sides genuinely want to move beyond the current stalemate, concerning the Karabakh conflict, stated in the interview given to the Azerbaijani news agency APA the U.S. co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick.

“I was pleased the most recent meeting in Kyiv was a chance for the ministers to discuss sensitive and difficult issues in the spirit of finding a way forward. Their continued high-level engagement in the weeks ahead provides a real opportunity to deliver a just and peaceful resolution to this conflict, although we should recognize that progress requires political commitment at the highest level,” he said.

Answering to the question whether the ongoing negotiations are based on the earlier proposal or the co-chairs recently could propose some new ideas, James Warlick answered, “The ministers agreed last week to continue working together on the basis of what has already been achieved. At the same time, all parties are open to considering way to reach a lasting settlement. We will continue to support these negotiations in any way that will help them move forward.”

Commenting on the role of Switzerland in resolving the conflict, which will chair in OSCE next year, and it is the country that had directly facilitated in normalization of Turkey-Armenia negotiations the U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group expressed his appreciation of support from the Ukrainian Chairperson in Office over the past year.

He noted that the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group look forward to working with Switzerland as it assumes its new role in 2014. The Minks Group remains the format for facilitating a settlement. However, Switzerland has a long history of conflict resolution and their active involvement in the region is welcome.