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JOINT STATEMENT BY THE HEADS OF DELEGATION OF THE OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIR COUNTRIES
States News Service
December 4, 2014 Thursday
BASEL, Switzerland
The following information was released by the Organization for Security
and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE):
We, the Heads of Delegation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries
- Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, Secretary
of State of the United States John Kerry, State Secretary for European
Affairs of France Harlem Desir - remain strongly committed to a
peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. There is no
military solution, and we call on the sides to refrain from violence
and work actively towards a lasting settlement.
We regret the upsurge in violence in the past year along the Line of
Contact and the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. Military actions in July
and August resulted in a significant loss of life, raised tensions and
deepened mistrust between the sides. The sides must take additional
actions to reinforce the ceasefire of 1994 and create a more favorable
atmosphere for advancing peace talks.
The November 12 downing of a military helicopter along the Line of
Contact was an avoidable tragedy that underscored the importance of
measures by the sides to reduce tensions, restore trust, and avoid
future incidents. We appeal to all sides to demonstrate restraint to
prevent further escalation. We also call on them to settle humanitarian
issues in the spirit of the Astrakhan statement of October 2010 of
the Presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation.
The three meetings between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in
2014 at Sochi, Newport, and Paris have revitalized the most important
channel of communication between the sides. We welcome the agreement
by the Presidents in Paris to intensify dialogue in the coming year.
It is time for the sides to overcome disagreements, restore confidence,
and honour their commitment to enter into a negotiating process that
can result in a settlement. They are expected to acknowledge that the
basis for a comprehensive settlement are the elements and principles
outlined in the joint statements by the Presidents of Russia, the
United States, and France, especially those that were discussed
during the last summit in Paris. Negotiations on a comprehensive
peace agreement under the auspices of the Co-Chair countries should
begin as soon as possible.
We remain ready to work closely with the sides to reach a lasting
settlement and open a new chapter of peace, but stress that the
primary responsibility to end the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict rests
with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
From: A. Papazian
States News Service
December 4, 2014 Thursday
BASEL, Switzerland
The following information was released by the Organization for Security
and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE):
We, the Heads of Delegation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries
- Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, Secretary
of State of the United States John Kerry, State Secretary for European
Affairs of France Harlem Desir - remain strongly committed to a
peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. There is no
military solution, and we call on the sides to refrain from violence
and work actively towards a lasting settlement.
We regret the upsurge in violence in the past year along the Line of
Contact and the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. Military actions in July
and August resulted in a significant loss of life, raised tensions and
deepened mistrust between the sides. The sides must take additional
actions to reinforce the ceasefire of 1994 and create a more favorable
atmosphere for advancing peace talks.
The November 12 downing of a military helicopter along the Line of
Contact was an avoidable tragedy that underscored the importance of
measures by the sides to reduce tensions, restore trust, and avoid
future incidents. We appeal to all sides to demonstrate restraint to
prevent further escalation. We also call on them to settle humanitarian
issues in the spirit of the Astrakhan statement of October 2010 of
the Presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation.
The three meetings between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in
2014 at Sochi, Newport, and Paris have revitalized the most important
channel of communication between the sides. We welcome the agreement
by the Presidents in Paris to intensify dialogue in the coming year.
It is time for the sides to overcome disagreements, restore confidence,
and honour their commitment to enter into a negotiating process that
can result in a settlement. They are expected to acknowledge that the
basis for a comprehensive settlement are the elements and principles
outlined in the joint statements by the Presidents of Russia, the
United States, and France, especially those that were discussed
during the last summit in Paris. Negotiations on a comprehensive
peace agreement under the auspices of the Co-Chair countries should
begin as soon as possible.
We remain ready to work closely with the sides to reach a lasting
settlement and open a new chapter of peace, but stress that the
primary responsibility to end the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict rests
with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
From: A. Papazian