Interfax, Russia
Jan 29 2009
OSCE hopes differences over Karabakh will be overcome soon
BAKU Jan 29
The co-chairmen of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe) Minsk Group hope that Azerbaijan and Armenia will reach a
peaceful agreement on Karabakh in the nearest future.
"The Co-Chairs hope the parties will be able to bridge these remaining
differences in the nearest future to secure a peace agreement that is
far better for all parties than the status quo," the document posted
on the OSCE website says.
"Their goal is a just and balanced agreement based on the Helsinki
Final Act principles of territorial integrity, self-determination, and
the non-use of force," the Minsk Group co-chairmen said after another
round of the Armenian-Azeri talks on Karabakh, held in Zurich the day
earlier.
"The Co-Chairs explored with the two Presidents their thoughts on how
to finalize the Basic Principles on the peaceful settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, proceeding from the proposal presented to
the sides at the OSCE Ministerial Conference in Madrid in November
2007," the document said.
"The Co-Chairs agreed to work with the Foreign Ministers on
elaborating proposals for the consideration of the two Presidents on
the most important remaining differences between the sides existing
within the framework of the Basic Principles," the document said.