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Russia, France and the USA urge Armenia and Azerbaijan not to select
any elements over others in Karabakh conflict settlement
2010-07-17 14:03:00
ArmInfo. The Heads of Delegation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair
countries, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov,
Foreign Minister of France Bernard Kouchner, and Deputy Secretary of
State of the United States James Steinberg, released a joint statement
today at the OSCE Informal Ministerial in Almaty.
The OSCE headquarters told ArmInfo that Lavrov, Kouchner, and
Steinberg met on the margins of the OSCE Informal Ministerial with
Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov and Foreign Minister
of Armenia Edward Nalbandian in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The Heads of
Delegation of the Co-Chair countries recalled the joint statement on
Nagorno-Karabakh of December 1, 2009 at the OSCE Ministerial meeting
in Athens and reminded the sides of their commitment to seek a
peaceful settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on the
principles contained in the Helsinki Final Act, particularly those
related to refraining from the threat or use of force, the territorial
integrity of states, and the equal rights and self determination of
peoples. They reiterated that the elements articulated by Presidents
Medvedev, Sarkozy, and Obama on July 10, 2009 at L'Aquila and repeated
at Muskoka on June 26, 2010 must be the foundation of any fair and
lasting settlement to the conflict.
"These proposed elements have been conceived as an integrated whole,
and any attempt to select some elements over others would make it
impossible to achieve a balanced solution",- says the statement.
Foreign Minister Kouchner and Deputy Secretary Steinberg expressed
appreciation for the efforts of President Medvedev and Foreign
Minister Lavrov to bridge the differences between the parties, taking
into consideration the positions discussed during the meetings in
Sochi on January 25, 2010 and in St. Petersburg on June 17, 2010.
The Heads of Delegation of Russia, France, and the United States
stressed that the efforts made so far by the parties to the conflict
have not been sufficient to overcome their differences. They deplored
recent developments, which have increased tension in the region,
including the serious armed incident of June 18-19, 2010 and
inflammatory public statements. They warned that the use of force
created the current situation, and its use again would only lead to
suffering, devastation, and a legacy of conflict and hostility that
would last for generations.
They urged a greater spirit of compromise to reach agreement on a
common basis for continuing the negotiations. Additional actions by
the sides are needed to reinforce the ceasefire of 1994 and to create
a more favorable atmosphere for further political dialogue and
reaching agreements. The Heads of Delegation of the Co-Chair countries
renewed their commitment to support the sides in reaching a peace
agreement, but reiterated that the primary responsibility to put an
end to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict still remains with Azerbaijani
and Armenian leaders.
From: A. Papazian
any elements over others in Karabakh conflict settlement
2010-07-17 14:03:00
ArmInfo. The Heads of Delegation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair
countries, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov,
Foreign Minister of France Bernard Kouchner, and Deputy Secretary of
State of the United States James Steinberg, released a joint statement
today at the OSCE Informal Ministerial in Almaty.
The OSCE headquarters told ArmInfo that Lavrov, Kouchner, and
Steinberg met on the margins of the OSCE Informal Ministerial with
Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov and Foreign Minister
of Armenia Edward Nalbandian in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The Heads of
Delegation of the Co-Chair countries recalled the joint statement on
Nagorno-Karabakh of December 1, 2009 at the OSCE Ministerial meeting
in Athens and reminded the sides of their commitment to seek a
peaceful settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on the
principles contained in the Helsinki Final Act, particularly those
related to refraining from the threat or use of force, the territorial
integrity of states, and the equal rights and self determination of
peoples. They reiterated that the elements articulated by Presidents
Medvedev, Sarkozy, and Obama on July 10, 2009 at L'Aquila and repeated
at Muskoka on June 26, 2010 must be the foundation of any fair and
lasting settlement to the conflict.
"These proposed elements have been conceived as an integrated whole,
and any attempt to select some elements over others would make it
impossible to achieve a balanced solution",- says the statement.
Foreign Minister Kouchner and Deputy Secretary Steinberg expressed
appreciation for the efforts of President Medvedev and Foreign
Minister Lavrov to bridge the differences between the parties, taking
into consideration the positions discussed during the meetings in
Sochi on January 25, 2010 and in St. Petersburg on June 17, 2010.
The Heads of Delegation of Russia, France, and the United States
stressed that the efforts made so far by the parties to the conflict
have not been sufficient to overcome their differences. They deplored
recent developments, which have increased tension in the region,
including the serious armed incident of June 18-19, 2010 and
inflammatory public statements. They warned that the use of force
created the current situation, and its use again would only lead to
suffering, devastation, and a legacy of conflict and hostility that
would last for generations.
They urged a greater spirit of compromise to reach agreement on a
common basis for continuing the negotiations. Additional actions by
the sides are needed to reinforce the ceasefire of 1994 and to create
a more favorable atmosphere for further political dialogue and
reaching agreements. The Heads of Delegation of the Co-Chair countries
renewed their commitment to support the sides in reaching a peace
agreement, but reiterated that the primary responsibility to put an
end to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict still remains with Azerbaijani
and Armenian leaders.
From: A. Papazian