Lavrov: OSCE MG co-chairs working actively to solve Karabakh conflict

By Azernews

By Rashid Shirinov

The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs are working actively on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a meeting with OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger in Moscow on November 3.

The Russian FM noted that the joint work is very important in the settlement of conflicts.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict 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 regions. Until now, Armenia controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.

During the meeting, Greminger expressed confidence that such an international inclusive security organization as the OSCE can prevent the transformation of crises into conflicts and help solve transnational problems.

"This has never been more important and apparent than today. This is why I have made it my mission to reinvigorate the OSCE as the essential forum for security dialogue in the Euroatlantic and Eurasian space,” Greminger added.

The OSCE secretary general also noted that he intends to continue this work in order to build a positive unifying agenda.

The Minsk Group spearheads the OSCE's efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. It is co-chaired by France, the Russian Federation, and the United States. Although there have been no breakthrough results in the conflict settlement so far, the co-chairs continue their efforts in this direction. In mid-October, the co-chairs organized a meeting between the Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents in Geneva, and the mediators will also meet with the FMs of both countries in mid-November.