The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be resolved on the basis of the three principles of the OSCE final Helsinki act: nonuse of force, peoples’ right to self-determination and territorial integrity, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told journalists in Yerevan.

According to her, U.S. President Barack Obama stressed that fact at his meetings with his Russian and French counterparts, Dmitry Medvedev and Nicolas Sarkozy. The conflicting parties seem to realize the fact that the problem must be resolved on the basis of these principles, Clinton said. She reaffirmed the USA’s readiness to contribute to a peaceful settlement of the conflict though it is not an easy process. She also stressed that the OSCE Minsk Group, as well as the states’ leaders, is actively working to resolve the conflict. In this context, progress is expected in reaching a final and long-lasting settlement of the conflict, Clinton said.

She pointed out the unacceptability of settling the conflict by means of violence, expressing her regret over the recent incidents on the contact line between the Azerbaijani and Nagorno-Karabakh armed forces. The U.S. regrets the death of people and urges the sides to refrain from such actions, Clinton said.

RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian stressed that at the trilateral talks in Saint Petersburg the states’ leaders agreed to continue the talks from the point set in Saint Petersburg. The U.S., Russian and French Presidents expressed their support for the process in their statement at the G8 summit, and the negotiations within the OSCE Minsk Group must be continued under the agreements, the Minister said. The Minister also stressed that Armenia shares the USA’s opinion that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be resolved on the principles of nonuse of force, peoples’ right to self-determination and territorial integrity. Armenia also shares Washington’s opinion on the need for refraining from militant rhetoric and establishing an atmosphere of tolerance in the region.