BAKU. - U.S. Ambassdor to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza shares President Barack Obama’s hopes concerning the achievement of agreement on basic principles in Kazan meeting”.

Commenting on Kazan meeting of Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian presidents, the ambassador said that president Obama noted the results expected by him from the meeting in Deauville statement: “The statement says that there is no alternative for peaceful settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and calls upon Presidents Aliyev and Sargsyan to use this period in Kazan meeting to reach agreement on basic principles. Of course I share that hope and deeply convince that there is no military solution,” Bryza told APA agency.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am reported earlier, Presidents of Russia, France and Armenia issued a joint statement on Nagorno-Karabakh within the framework of G8 Summit on May 26.

“We, the Presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group’s Co-Chair countries -- France, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America -- are convinced the time has arrived for all the sides to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to take a decisive step towards a peaceful settlement.

We reiterate that only a negotiated settlement can lead to peace, stability, and reconciliation, opening opportunities for regional development and cooperation.  The use of force created the current situation of confrontation and instability.  Its use again would only bring more suffering and devastation, and would be condemned by the international community.  We strongly urge the leaders of the sides to prepare their populations for peace, not war.

As a result of efforts by the parties and the Co-Chair countries at all levels, significant progress has been made.  The latest version of the Basic Principles, as discussed in Sochi on March 5, lays a just and balanced foundation for the drafting of a comprehensive peace settlement.  This document, based on the Helsinki Final Act and elements outlined in our joint declarations in L’Aquila in July 2009 and Muskoka in June 2010, provides a way for all sides to move beyond the unacceptable status quo.