FRANCE READY TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE FOR NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

Trend, Azerbaijan
May 13 2014

As the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing country, France is ready to
do everything possible for the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, French President Francois Hollande said following talks with
his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan in Yerevan, news.am. website
reported on May 13.

He reminded the audience that 20 years have passed since the signing
of the armistice, but this is not a settlement.

“The conflict continues,” the president said. “It claimed thousands
of lives. It is necessary to find its real solution. France is ready
to receive both the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to find ways
to strengthen confidence-building measures.”

President Hollande said that France is also ready to assist Armenia
in developing relations with the EU.

“A differentiated approach to Armenia is required for the EU to manage
to participate in certain programs in Armenia,” he said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in
1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a
result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied
20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and
seven surrounding districts.

The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are currently
holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress