OSCE Minsk Group planning South Caucasus visit to talk summit meeting

September 28, 2013 - 12:02 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Ambassadors Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Jacques Faure of France, and James Warlick of the United States of America) and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, met with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian in New York on September 27, the OSCE official website said.

The Co-Chairs and the Ministers continued discussions on the substance of the peace process.

The Co-Chairs stressed the commitment of their three countries to support the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on the non-use of force or the threat of force, territorial integrity, and equal rights and self-determination of peoples. They also referred to the statement of their three Presidents on June 18, 2013, with special attention to the appeal to the sides to refrain from any actions or rhetoric that could raise tension in the region and lead to escalation of the conflict.

The Ministers reiterated their determination to continue working with the Co-Chairs to reach a peaceful settlement of the conflict.

The Co-Chairs expect to visit the region in November to discuss with the Presidents their planned summit meeting later this year.

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.