OSCE MG briefs Armenian President on results of meetings in Baku, Stepanakert

June 9, 2011 - 20:09 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan received Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group Robert Bradtke (USA), Igor Popov (Russia), Bernard Fassier (France) and Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office.

The parties discussed the current stage of negotiations for the Karabakh conflict settlement, as well as preparatory works for the June 25 trilateral meeting of the Armenian, Azerbaijani and Russian Presidents in Kazan.

Besides, the Co-chairs briefed Mr. Sargsyan on the results of meetings held in Baku and Stepanakert, the RA presidential press service reported.

During his meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said earlier that Armenia has given a clear answer to the recent version of the basic principles submitted by the Co-chairs. If Azerbaijan is ready to give an unequivocal consent to the recent version, the expected progress can be reached, he noted.

Nalbandian went on saying: “Are the Azerbaijani officials’ statements, which distort the essence of negotiation process after Deauville and are based on invented details about stationing of peacekeepers and other matters, an evidence of Baku’s readiness to agree to the suggestions without changes and amendments, what is urged by the Co-Chairs?”

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.