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Andrzej Kasprzy: OSCE MG has reason for optimism on Nagorno-Karabakh process
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/12/14/andrzej-kasprzy-osce-mg-has-reason-for-optimism-on-nagorno-karabakh-process/
14:06 14.12.2013
Andrzej Kasprzy, OSCE Minsk Group
Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan
have made it clear that they intend to build on the momentum of their
meetings and intensify the peace process, which indeed gives ground
for optimism in 2014, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Personal
Representative Andrzej Kasprzyk told Trend.
`In the last few weeks I have heard cautiously optimistic assessments
from Armenian and Azerbaijani officials,' he said.
`With the permission and assistance of the sides, OSCE mission members
have visited the contact line on 17 occasions in 2013,' Kasprzyk
added.
`Local commanders, as well as civilian authorities, have raised a
number of serious concerns during these visits,' he said. `These
concerns include: the risk to life posed to civilians and military
personnel, both from ceasefire violations and mine-related incidents;
and the debilitating psychological and economic impact on those living
close to the contact line.'
`The number of those reported killed or wounded as a result of
ceasefire violations in 2013 is less than in 2012,' Kasprzyk said.
`However, the ceasefire remains self-regulated: the risks remain as
serious as ever, and those living close to the contact line will
continue to suffer hardship until such time as the ceasefire is
strengthened.'
`The Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the Personal Representative have
mandates to work with the parties to develop confidence-building and
other measures,' he said.
`Presidents Aliyev and Sargsyan have called for additional steps to
strengthen the ceasefire and carry out confidence-building measures in
all fields in order to create a better atmosphere for the
negotiations,' he said.
`One of confidence-building measures would be to develop humanitarian
contacts among the two sides, intelligentsia, academic and public
circles,' Kasprzyk said.
Moreover, Kasprzyk's team has been helping to elaborate a mechanism
for investigating potential incidents.
`Implementation of some confidence-building measures is more
complicated than that of others,' he said. `But these measures can and
- sooner or later - will help reduce tensions on the contact line and
the international border; reduce the risks faced by military personnel
and those living close to the front lines; and create a better
atmosphere for the negotiations, allowing Presidents Aliyev and
Sargsyan to make demonstrable progress towards a lasting political
settlement.'
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/12/14/andrzej-kasprzy-osce-mg-has-reason-for-optimism-on-nagorno-karabakh-process/
14:06 14.12.2013
Andrzej Kasprzy, OSCE Minsk Group
Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan
have made it clear that they intend to build on the momentum of their
meetings and intensify the peace process, which indeed gives ground
for optimism in 2014, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Personal
Representative Andrzej Kasprzyk told Trend.
`In the last few weeks I have heard cautiously optimistic assessments
from Armenian and Azerbaijani officials,' he said.
`With the permission and assistance of the sides, OSCE mission members
have visited the contact line on 17 occasions in 2013,' Kasprzyk
added.
`Local commanders, as well as civilian authorities, have raised a
number of serious concerns during these visits,' he said. `These
concerns include: the risk to life posed to civilians and military
personnel, both from ceasefire violations and mine-related incidents;
and the debilitating psychological and economic impact on those living
close to the contact line.'
`The number of those reported killed or wounded as a result of
ceasefire violations in 2013 is less than in 2012,' Kasprzyk said.
`However, the ceasefire remains self-regulated: the risks remain as
serious as ever, and those living close to the contact line will
continue to suffer hardship until such time as the ceasefire is
strengthened.'
`The Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the Personal Representative have
mandates to work with the parties to develop confidence-building and
other measures,' he said.
`Presidents Aliyev and Sargsyan have called for additional steps to
strengthen the ceasefire and carry out confidence-building measures in
all fields in order to create a better atmosphere for the
negotiations,' he said.
`One of confidence-building measures would be to develop humanitarian
contacts among the two sides, intelligentsia, academic and public
circles,' Kasprzyk said.
Moreover, Kasprzyk's team has been helping to elaborate a mechanism
for investigating potential incidents.
`Implementation of some confidence-building measures is more
complicated than that of others,' he said. `But these measures can and
- sooner or later - will help reduce tensions on the contact line and
the international border; reduce the risks faced by military personnel
and those living close to the front lines; and create a better
atmosphere for the negotiations, allowing Presidents Aliyev and
Sargsyan to make demonstrable progress towards a lasting political
settlement.'