Karabakh conflict sides want to move beyond stalemate: diplomatDecember 10, 2013 - 21:08 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Recent talks between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Vienna and the Foreign Ministers in Kyiv have shown that the sides genuinely want to move beyond the current stalemate in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process, U.S. Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group said. “I was pleased the most recent meeting in Kyiv was a chance for the ministers to discuss sensitive and difficult issues in the spirit of finding a way forward. Their continued high-level engagement in the weeks ahead provides a real opportunity to deliver a just and peaceful resolution to this conflict, although we should recognize that progress requires political commitment at the highest level,” James Warlick said, quoted by Azerbaijan Press Agency. “The ministers agreed last week to continue working together on the basis of what has already been achieved. At the same time, all parties are open to considering way to reach a lasting settlement. We will continue to support these negotiations in any way that will help them move forward,” the diplomat said. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan met with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev in Vienna on Nov 19 for the first time in two years. The meeting was later joined by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, who afterwards made a statement. According to the statement, during the tête-à-tête conversation, followed by a working meeting with the co-chairs, the leaders of the two countries’ discussed a wide range of issues related to the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Sargsyan and Aliyev agreed to promote further negotiations to achieve a peaceful solution and instructed Foreign Ministers to continue working with the co-chairs to achieve the goal. Related links: 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. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. |