Lamberto Zannier: South Caucasus important for security of entire OSCE area

PanARMENIAN.Net - The South Caucasus is important for the security and stability of the entire OSCE area, and the OSCE is as active in the region as ever, OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier told Trend in an interview.

“In Armenia and Azerbaijan, we work to support domestic reforms through our field operations,” he added.

He said that the OSCE also remain deeply committed to helping to resolve protracted conflicts in the region through the agreed formats - the OSCE Minsk Group, which is co-chaired by France, Russia and US, and the Geneva Discussions, co-chaired by the OSCE, the EU and the UN.

He said that his appointment is not a question of a change in policy so much as a continuous process of adaptation.

“Our work and approaches will continue to evolve in response to changing security needs,” he said. “All of what we do is based on mandates agreed by consensus of the 56 participating States. This means that the countries of the South Caucasus - Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia - are not only ‘consumers’ of our efforts, but also contributors to the work of the Organization as a whole to promote security, prosperity and democracy throughout the OSCE space.”

He said that he fully supports efforts to address the protracted conflicts through the agreed formats, and he is optimistic that progress can be achieved.

“I met recently with the Minsk Group Co-Chairs and I share their view that the Basic Principles must be agreed as a top priority so that the sides can move to the drafting of a comprehensive peace settlement,” he said.

“I had the pleasure of visiting Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia regularly as Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre,” he added.

“I look forward to visiting the region in my new capacity as soon as my schedule allows,” he said. “I intend to use my future visits to discuss with the leadership of the countries of the region ways to preserve and possibly further enhance the effective of the OSCE’s contribution to security and stability in the South Caucasus,” according to Trend.