OSCE Chairperson-in-Office: Development of peace treaty on Karabakh possible

July 15, 2011 - 19:26 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Azubalis today met the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group: Ambassador Bernard Fassier of France, Robert Bradtke of the United States, and Igor Popov of the Russian Federation accompanied by Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office on the conflict dealt with by the OSCE Minsk Conference.

Azubalis voiced support for the efforts by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group to achieve a breakthrough at the negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and called for more civil society involvement in the implementation of confidence-building measures, saying: “It will contribute to the resolution of the conflict, and will strengthen confidence among the societies.”

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs informed Azubalis about the trilateral meeting of Armenian, Azerbaijani and Russian Presidents in Kazan on 24 June, which was an attempt to agree on basic principles as the framework for a comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. They also discussed the prospects of a solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and planned negotiating initiatives for the remaining year.

Azubalis stressed that the Chairmanship will work to reduce tensions and build trust among affected communities in the South Caucasus: “We will urge all participants to take full advantage of the Geneva framework to develop measures to improve security and alleviate humanitarian needs.”

He underlined the importance of co-operation between the UN and OSCE in maintaining regional peace and security. The OSCE Minsk Group was established in 1992 to encourage a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh. The negotiation process is headed by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group. Ambassador Kasprzyk represents the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in the process, and his office monitors the ceasefire.

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.