In an interview on February 17, 2009, with Armenia’s “Capital” newspaper, Minsk Group Co-Chair Matthew Bryza set out key points for a lasting settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

• The United States, Russia, France, and all Minsk Group countries recognize Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, which is the most important principle for Azerbaijan.
  
  
• But, self-determination is the most important principle for Armenia.
  
  
• To be mutually agreed, any settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must take into account territorial integrity and self-determination, as well as non-use-of-force.
  
  
• These three principles are core elements of the Helsinki Final Act.
  
  
• Striking a balance among these three principles that is mutually agreeable to the parties is what the Minsk Group's Basic Principles aim to do.