Armenian, Azeri leaders agree to expand OSCE monitoring team: U.S.July 27, 2016 - 13:03 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlicksaid on Wednesday, July 26 that the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents agreed to expand the OSCE monitoring group along the Karabakh contact line and the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, RIA Novosti reports. “The Co-chairs do their utmost to have the agreements reached at meetings in Vienna and Saint Petersburg implemented to reduce tensions and move closer to the conflict settlement,” Warlick said. Armenian Persident Serzh Sargsyan and Azeri leader Ilham Aliyev met on June 20 in Saint Petersburg to address the conflict, with Russian President Vladimir Putin mediating the talks. The Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents confirmed their commitment to the implementation of agreements reached at a Vienna-hosted meeting on May 16. To that end, they have agreed to increase the number of international observers in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone. Also, they expressed satisfaction that the ceasefire was now holding. Prior to that, a meeting between both leaders was organized on May 16 in Vienna, with top diplomats from the MG co-chairing countries hosting the summit. “The Presidents agreed on the expansion of the monitoring team. Extensive negotiations involving senior officials from both sides will further be held to resolve the conflict.” “Progress in the diplomatic direction is necessary to reduce tensions between the parties,” he added. Related links: 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 | 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. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. CSTO recognizes Armenia’s sovereign right to withdraw Tasmagambetov has said that if Armenia decides to leave the organization, “it will be the sovereign right of Armenia.” |