OSCE MG Co-Chairs coordinate program of activities

September 8, 2011 - 21:25 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Bernard Fassier of France, Robert Bradtke of the United States, and Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, released the following statement:

"The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Ambassadors Bernard Fassier of France, Robert Bradtke of the United States, and Igor Popov of the Russian Federation) and Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk (Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office) met on September 7 in Vienna to discuss and coordinate their program of activities, leading up to the Vilnius Ministerial Council of the OSCE in December. The Co-Chairs also briefed the OSCE Minsk Group on the continued high-level engagement with the sides by all three Co-Chair governments, as well as on concrete efforts to strengthen the ceasefire and to reach endorsement of the Basic Principles as a framework for a comprehensive peace agreement. On September 8, the Co-Chairs met with OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier to further discuss these and other aspects of the peace process."

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.