OSCE MG Co-Chairs expect serious Sargsyan-Aliyev discussion in Paris

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group expect the Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents to have a serious discussion in Paris about the key issues of a settlement, said OSCE’s press service said in its statement to APA.

Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders, Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan are expected to meet for Karabakh talks on October 27 in Paris.

Baku repeatedly expressed “readiness to ink a peace deal,” instead, undermining every attempt to reach an agreement. Thus, on June 24, 2011 during conflict settlement talks in Kazan, Baku refused to sign the basic principles for conflict settlement. Instead, the Azerbaijani leader attempted to impose 10 new proposals, thus precluding the possibility of any agreement.

“The Presidents’ recent meetings in Sochi and Wales revitalized the most important channel of communication between the sides. We expect the Presidents to have a serious discussion in Paris about the key issues of a settlement. We also hope the Presidents will agree to measures that can increase trust and transparency between the sides. The Co-Chairs stand ready to help in whatever way we can,” the OSCE press service said.

“The OSCE Minsk Group is the only format the sides trust to mediate a lasting settlement to the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh. The leadership in Armenia and Azerbaijan has publicly expressed their support for the Co-Chairs’ efforts, and we are ready to assist the sides to reach a peaceful resolution. A resolution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict depends on the political will of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, and not on treaties or alliances. The Co-Chairs hope with the recent contacts between the Presidents they will commit themselves to a settlement”, the statement said.

The co-chairs refused to comment on the upcoming trial of Azeri saboteurs in Nagorno Karabakh October 27.

The two Azeri commandos, Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilgam Askerov, were caught making an incursion into Armenian territory (Karvachar) in the summer. The third commando, Hasan Hasanov, was killed, and his body was handed over to Baku earlier in October. The actions of the commando group left an underage resident of Karvachar and an Armenian serviceman killed, as well as one woman wounded.