Luis Bono: 'We want the parties to draft the text and terms themselves and adopt them together'

Luis Bono gave an interview to the Armenian service of 'Radio Liberty' in Yerevan. ‘Radio Liberty’: - Your first visit to the region comes during a difficult period. The Lachin Corridor has been blocked for nearly three months, and the Armenian side reported a bloody provocation by Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh. On the other hand, Baku talks about reintegration, warning of harsher and more decisive steps. Is this the type of direct negotiation that Washington is promoting, and is it possible to achieve peace in this atmosphere?

Luis Bono: - I arrived in Baku on Sunday evening. And when I got off the plane, I was informed of the tragic news in Nagorno-Karabakh, which is very concerning. However, it only reinforced the importance of my mission and the necessity to end this conflict. We do not see any other way than to work closely with the parties, both the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, to establish peace—a peace that is long-lasting and balanced.

‘Radio Liberty’: - Would you consider the communications between Stepanakert and Baku, mediated by Russia, the beginning of a necessary dialogue?

Luis Bono: - It is not within my authority to comment on the dialogue mediated by the Russian Federation. ‘Radio Liberty’: - In that case, is the United States ready to take on the mediation of talks between Baku and Stepanakert? If so, in what capacity?

Luis Bono: - Our role in this process is not to mediate. We are not here to impose a text or to wrap conditions around the neck of either party. What we are trying to do is facilitate peace. I mean, we want the parties to draft the text and terms themselves and adopt them together. They need to work on this together, because any long-term, sustainable, and balanced peace must come from the parties. It cannot come from a third party.

It should be noted that on March 7, Luis (Lou) Bono, the American co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group and senior advisor on South Caucasus negotiations at the U.S. State Department, arrived in Yerevan.