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OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS CALL ON TO ACCELERATE REACHING AGREEMENT ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH
Trend
May 14 2012
Azerbaijan
The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Ambassadors Robert Bradtke
of the United States, Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, and
Jacques Faure of France) and Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk (Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office) traveled on May 11-14
to Yerevan and Baku, where they met with Presidents Serzh Sargsian
and Ilham Aliyev to discuss the most recent efforts to resolve the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Minsk Group's statement published on
OSCE website said on Monday.
The Co-Chairs continued their discussions with the sides on how to
implement the commitments made by Presidents Aliyev and Sargsian in
their January 23 joint statement in Sochi, including to "accelerate"
reaching agreement on the Basic Principles as a framework for a
comprehensive peace settlement, to work on the mechanism to investigate
ceasefire violations, and to develop humanitarian contacts.
The Co-Chairs expressed their concern over recent incidents along
the frontlines, and urged the sides to exercise restraint and refrain
from retaliation. The Co-Chairs welcomed the sides' reaffirmation of
their commitment to seek a peaceful settlement.
The Co-Chairs also discussed with the sides the development of
confidence-building measures in the military and people-to-people
spheres to enhance trust and strengthen implementation of the 1994
ceasefire. In addition, the Co-Chairs discussed the importance of
assessing and preserving at-risk sites of Azerbaijani and Armenian
cultural and historical value, in order to protect the shared heritage
of the region's peoples while negotiations continue toward a final
and lasting peace.
The Co-Chairs plan to continue discussions with the Foreign Ministers
of the two countries in the near future.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France and the U.S. -
are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Trend
May 14 2012
Azerbaijan
The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Ambassadors Robert Bradtke
of the United States, Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, and
Jacques Faure of France) and Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk (Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office) traveled on May 11-14
to Yerevan and Baku, where they met with Presidents Serzh Sargsian
and Ilham Aliyev to discuss the most recent efforts to resolve the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Minsk Group's statement published on
OSCE website said on Monday.
The Co-Chairs continued their discussions with the sides on how to
implement the commitments made by Presidents Aliyev and Sargsian in
their January 23 joint statement in Sochi, including to "accelerate"
reaching agreement on the Basic Principles as a framework for a
comprehensive peace settlement, to work on the mechanism to investigate
ceasefire violations, and to develop humanitarian contacts.
The Co-Chairs expressed their concern over recent incidents along
the frontlines, and urged the sides to exercise restraint and refrain
from retaliation. The Co-Chairs welcomed the sides' reaffirmation of
their commitment to seek a peaceful settlement.
The Co-Chairs also discussed with the sides the development of
confidence-building measures in the military and people-to-people
spheres to enhance trust and strengthen implementation of the 1994
ceasefire. In addition, the Co-Chairs discussed the importance of
assessing and preserving at-risk sites of Azerbaijani and Armenian
cultural and historical value, in order to protect the shared heritage
of the region's peoples while negotiations continue toward a final
and lasting peace.
The Co-Chairs plan to continue discussions with the Foreign Ministers
of the two countries in the near future.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France and the U.S. -
are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress