Azerbaijan's Initiated War Complicates the Challenge of Achieving a Peaceful and Stable Resolution to the Artsakh Issue: John Evans

Azerbaijan's initiated war has further complicated the challenge of achieving a peaceful and stable resolution to the Artsakh issue. This was stated by John Evans, the former U.S. ambassador in Armenia from 2004 to 2006, in an interview with Tert.am.

Here is an excerpt from the interview:

Mr. Evans, as I have the opportunity to interview you, I cannot miss the chance to ask you questions regarding the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. Following the 44-day war, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has declared that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is resolved, and Armenia should not have any claims. What is your opinion regarding the post-war situation? How does the newly elected President Joe Biden's administration view this issue?

The United States, as one of the three co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, along with France and the Russian Federation, has always advocated for a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. For about twenty-six years, the mediators have tried to assist the parties in achieving a fair and lasting solution, coming quite close several times, as in Key West in 2001. However, diplomacy, much like politics, is the art of the possible, and we saw last autumn what can happen when it fails.

During the war initiated by Azerbaijan, violence and destruction brought great pain and suffering to the population of Nagorno-Karabakh and, unfortunately, further complicated the challenge of achieving a peaceful and stable solution. As has always been the case, the co-chairs are available to assist the parties; however, ultimately it is the parties that are responsible for addressing the many issues at hand.

After the war, Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan remain hostages for political bargaining and trade. In your opinion, how can this issue be resolved? Do you see a possibility for the U.S. to help Armenia in resolving the issue and returning Armenians to their homeland?

Unfortunately, hostages are used by some countries and non-state actors for ransom or political bargaining. The first war driven by the U.S. was against the Barbary pirates in North Africa, who employed similar tactics. It was encouraging to see some of the illegal detainees who were Armenian returned, while the charges against others presented by the Baku court lack real action, not to mention the acts of cruelty and barbarism we have seen in some videos that are contrary to established international norms and humanitarian principles. These actions should be condemned.

For about two months now, Azerbaijani troops have been stationed in Armenian territories, in the Syunik and Gegharkunik regions, and show no intention of withdrawing. Nikol Pashinyan has proposed a mirrored principle for the withdrawal of forces from the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and the placement of international observers. In your opinion, what is the U.S. position on this issue?

I am no longer in the U.S. diplomatic service, and therefore, I am not in a position to say what the new administration's stance might be in the future. However, the violation of the recognized borders of the Republic of Armenia, even if there are some disputed areas that need to be demarcated, clearly does not help the situation and should be halted immediately.