  OSCE MG introduces updated version of Madrid Principles to YerevanJanuary 22, 2010 - 19:12 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Following the meeting with Armenia's President Serzh Sargsyan, the Co-Chairs of OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), Bernard Fassier (France) and Robert Bradtke (U.S.) have issued the following statement:"On January 20, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs (Ambassador Yuri Merzlyakov, the Russian Federation; Ambassador Bernard Fassier, France; Ambassador Robert Bradtke, United States) met with Armenian President Serzh Sargsian in Yerevan, Armenia. As instructed by their presidents in L'Aquila in July 2009, the Co-Chairs delivered to President Sargsian, just as they had to President Ilham Aliyev during their visit to Baku in December 2009, an updated version of the Madrid Document of November 2007, containing the Co-Chairs' latest articulation of the Basic Principles. On January 21, the Co-Chairs met President Aliyev in Baku, Azerbaijan. In their discussions with the Co-Chairs, each president expressed their commitment to continue to pursue a peaceful settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and reaffirmed the seriousness of their side in the negotiations. The Co-Chairs traveled to Astana, Kazakhstan for consultations with the Government of Kazakhstan, upon its ascension to the Chairmanship of the OSCE. Following their consultations in Astana, they will continue on to Sochi, Russia, where Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will host the next meeting between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia." The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out in 1988 as result of the ethnic cleansing the latter launched in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 to 1994. Since the ceasefire in 1994, sealed by Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan, most of Nagorno Karabakh and several regions of Azerbaijan around it (the security zone) remain under the control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now. The Madrid principles contain the proposals put forward by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs on the basic principles of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. The document was submitted to the Armenian and Azerbaijani representatives at the OSCE summit in the Spanish capital in November 2007.   Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.   Partner news |  Related sections Topic Latest news The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity  The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization.Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia.Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty.Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. |
