Statement Of OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

STATEMENT OF OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS

The following statement has been posted on the OSCE’s official website
after the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs’ November 28-30 visits to Yerevan
and Baku:

“The Co-Chairs were accompanied by Ambassador Jacques For, who
will be replacing Ambassador Fassier as the French Co-Chair. In
Yerevan the Co-Chairs met with President Serzh Sargsyan, Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandyan and Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, and
in Baku they met with President Ilham Aliyev, Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammedyarov and Defense Minister Safar Abiyev. During all meetings,
the Co-Chairs affirmed their respective countries’ commitment to
show support to the sides for a stable and peaceful resolution of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Taking into account the information about the latest incidents on
the line of contact, the Co-Chairs have underlined the importance of
maintaining the ceasefire agreement signed in 1994. They have stressed
that such incidents go to show the need for implementing a mechanism
for leading investigation into the incidents along the line of contact,
on which the presidents of both countries have reached an agreement.

The Co-Chairs have discussed the strengthening of confidence, as well
as the issue of applying additional measures for maintaining cultural
buildings, cemeteries and sites of worship.

On November 29, the Co-Chairs crossed the border between Armenia
and Azerbaijan by foot. In addition, they met with local officials
to discuss the situation created in the bordering region. The
Co-Chairs on November 30 met with the Azerbaijani representatives of
Nagorno-Karabakh and underlined that the peaceful resolution should
include the right of all internally displaced people and refugees to
return to their former sites of residence.

Ahead of the OSCE Foreign Ministers’ Ministerial Council to be held
in Vilnius in December, the Co-Chairs have called on the sides to
take advantage of the created opportunity and emphasize once again
their willingness to seek ways for a peaceful resolution and get out
of the unacceptable status-quo.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress