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ITAR-TASS, Russia
February 12, 2011 Saturday 6:20 PM EST
Karabakh talks go positively - int'l mediators
BAKU February 12
The Karabakh peace talks are proceeding positively, the co-chairmen of
the OSCE Minsk Group said after their trips to Baku and Yerevan on
February 8-11.
The Russian, American and French co-chairmen believe that "there has
been positive movement as a result of the work that has been done
since the October 2010 Astrakhan Summit" held by the presidents of
Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia, initiated by Russia President Dmitry
Medvedev.
The international mediators urged the sides "to make further progress
to allow the peace process to proceed to its next phase" and pledged
"their support for the sides as they make the necessary decisions to
reach a peaceful settlement".
In their opinion, "the time has arrived for decisive action on behalf
of peace to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict."
In order to promote a climate conducive to peace, the co-chairmen
"urged the sides to show restraint both on the ground and in their
public statements".
This is the first visit by the Minsk Group co-chairmen to the region
in 2011. In Yerevan, they met with President Serzh Sargsyan, Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandyan, and Defence Minister Seyran Ohanyan. In
Baku, they met with President Ilham Aliyev, Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov, and Defence Minister Safar Abiyev.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict began on February 22, 1988. On November
29, 1989 direct rule in Nagorno-Karabakh was ended and Azerbaijan
regained control of the region. However later a joint session of the
Armenian parliament and the top legislative body of Nagorno-Karabakh
proclaimed the unification of Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia.
On December 10, 1991, Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh held a referendum,
boycotted by local Azeris, that approved the creation of an
independent state.
The struggle over Nagorno-Karabakh escalated after both Armenia and
Azerbaijan obtained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By the
end of 1993, the conflict had caused thousands of casualties and
created hundreds of thousands of refugees on both sides. An unofficial
ceasefire was reached on May 12, 1994.
As of August, 2008, the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group were
attempting to negotiate a full settlement of the conflict. On August
2, 2008, Aliyev and Sargsyan travelled to Moscow for talks with
Medvedev. As a result, the three presidents signed an agreement that
calls for talks on a political settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.
From: A. Papazian
February 12, 2011 Saturday 6:20 PM EST
Karabakh talks go positively - int'l mediators
BAKU February 12
The Karabakh peace talks are proceeding positively, the co-chairmen of
the OSCE Minsk Group said after their trips to Baku and Yerevan on
February 8-11.
The Russian, American and French co-chairmen believe that "there has
been positive movement as a result of the work that has been done
since the October 2010 Astrakhan Summit" held by the presidents of
Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia, initiated by Russia President Dmitry
Medvedev.
The international mediators urged the sides "to make further progress
to allow the peace process to proceed to its next phase" and pledged
"their support for the sides as they make the necessary decisions to
reach a peaceful settlement".
In their opinion, "the time has arrived for decisive action on behalf
of peace to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict."
In order to promote a climate conducive to peace, the co-chairmen
"urged the sides to show restraint both on the ground and in their
public statements".
This is the first visit by the Minsk Group co-chairmen to the region
in 2011. In Yerevan, they met with President Serzh Sargsyan, Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandyan, and Defence Minister Seyran Ohanyan. In
Baku, they met with President Ilham Aliyev, Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov, and Defence Minister Safar Abiyev.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict began on February 22, 1988. On November
29, 1989 direct rule in Nagorno-Karabakh was ended and Azerbaijan
regained control of the region. However later a joint session of the
Armenian parliament and the top legislative body of Nagorno-Karabakh
proclaimed the unification of Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia.
On December 10, 1991, Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh held a referendum,
boycotted by local Azeris, that approved the creation of an
independent state.
The struggle over Nagorno-Karabakh escalated after both Armenia and
Azerbaijan obtained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By the
end of 1993, the conflict had caused thousands of casualties and
created hundreds of thousands of refugees on both sides. An unofficial
ceasefire was reached on May 12, 1994.
As of August, 2008, the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group were
attempting to negotiate a full settlement of the conflict. On August
2, 2008, Aliyev and Sargsyan travelled to Moscow for talks with
Medvedev. As a result, the three presidents signed an agreement that
calls for talks on a political settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.
From: A. Papazian