New OSCE MG U.S. co-chair determined to settle Karabakh conflict

September 10, 2013 - 13:43 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The new U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick seems to be determined to settle the Karabakh conflict, indenting to “pursue his activities in line with principles of realism and pragmatism.”

At a Baku-hosted briefing, Warlick urged to find a way to achieve piece and prosperity in the region on the threshold of the 20th anniversary of ceasefire.

"It's time for the Minsk Group, Azerbaijan, Armenia and other countries in the region to take necessary steps to achieve a lasting peace in Karabakh," Azeri media quoted the co-chair as saying.

"I'm here to better understand the situation. I'm not here for the past, I'm here to help build a conflict-free future," the co-chair said, expressing hope for the conflicting parties to realize that the settlement will be to everyone's benefit.

Upon completion of his Baku visit, Warlick will further travel to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. This is the first visit of Warlick, who assumed the post last month, in the capacity of the OSCE MG co-chair.

Earlier, Warlick passed President Barack Obama’s address to his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev.

In the statement, the U.S. leader urges for new effort to achieve compromise in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.

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The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.

The OSCE Minsk Group

The OSCE Minsk Group was created in 1992 to encourage a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The Minsk Group is headed by a Co-Chairmanship consisting of France, Russia and the United States. The main objectives of the Minsk Process are as follows: Providing an appropriate framework for conflict resolution in the way of assuring the negotiation process supported by the Minsk Group; Obtaining conclusion by the Parties of an agreement on the cessation of the armed conflict in order to permit the convening of the Minsk Conference; Promoting the peace process by deploying OSCE multinational peacekeeping forces.