ASSA-IRADA,
13, March 2008

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed doubt on Wednesday that the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh can be settled soon.

Rice's statement came at a congressional hearing after two lawmakers expressed concern about the possibility of a fresh war in the South Caucasus region.

Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a shaky ceasefire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts. Peace talks have been fruitless so far.

On March 4, shooting erupted on the frontline in what was termed as the worst fighting seen in the region in years. Four Azerbaijani soldiers were killed and one was injured after Armenian armed forces breached ceasefire in the frontline Terter and Goranboy districts. 12 Armenian soldiers died and 15 others were heavily injured during the skirmishes. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matt Bryza visited the region afterwards and expressed concerns to both Armenian and Azeri officials that the clashes not recur.

"In the immediate future I don't know that Upper Garabagh can get solved," Rice said at Capitol Hill.

"We have been close several times," she said. "And so we'll continue to try to work that. But I just have to emphasize, we have problems on both sides right now, and we're trying to make sure that both sides act responsibly."

Commenting on the statement, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov said Rice's doubts were understandable.

"We believe that this statement is addressed to Yerevan more. The latest developments in Armenia and the position of this country's officials could not but affect the negotiating process," Azimov said.

Armenia's February 19 presidential poll was followed by violent protests of thousands of demonstrators who took to the streets charging vote rigging.