OSCE hopes all sides will stay committed to Karabakh settlement

PanARMENIAN.Net - OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs will submit proposals on opportunities to reduce the risk of border clashes and promote dialogue on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the OSCE MG U.S. Co-chair said in an interview with Turan news agency and the Voice of America.

When asked about the mediator’s possible stopover in the South Caucasus region, James Warlick said “the Co-chairs do not have any immediate plans for a visit, although we do hope to visit the region in the near future. Our aim is to discuss opportunities to push negotiations on the conflict settlement forward. We will also raise proposals to reduce the risk of violence, also seeking possibilities to promote dialogue.”

Asked about PACE’s reports on Karabakh and Azerbaijani comments on the OSCE’s "biased and discriminative attitude," Warlick said the Organization does not object to discussions on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict by regional and international organizations.

“The Co-chairs wanted to emphasize that the Minsk Group remains the only format mandated to tackle the issue. We hope Armenia and Azerbaijan will remain fully committed to working closely with the mediators on a negotiated settlement.”

The Co-chairs serve as mediators at the request of both sides, he said.

“We will continue our efforts to help reach a lasting settlement as long as the sides believe our services to be helpful. It is the Presidents who must demonstrate political will to bring about a settlement,” the diplomat said.