Tweet
OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS DISCUSS CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES
ITAR-TASS
May 14, 2012 Monday 08:19 PM GMT+4
Russia
During their meetings with the presidents of Azerbaijan and
Armenia in Baku and Yerevan, the co-chairs of the Minsk Group of the
Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) discussed
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement efforts.
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) travelled May 11-14
to Yerevan and Baku, where they met with Presidents Sargsyan and Aliyev
to discuss the most recent efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, the OSCE said.
The Co-Chairs continued their discussions with the sides on how to
implement the commitments made by Presidents Aliyev and Sargsyan 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 Armenian and Azeri 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 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: Baghdasarian
ITAR-TASS
May 14, 2012 Monday 08:19 PM GMT+4
Russia
During their meetings with the presidents of Azerbaijan and
Armenia in Baku and Yerevan, the co-chairs of the Minsk Group of the
Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) discussed
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement efforts.
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) travelled May 11-14
to Yerevan and Baku, where they met with Presidents Sargsyan and Aliyev
to discuss the most recent efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, the OSCE said.
The Co-Chairs continued their discussions with the sides on how to
implement the commitments made by Presidents Aliyev and Sargsyan 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 Armenian and Azeri 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 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: Baghdasarian