OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries' foreign ministers issue statement on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict - UPDATE

09:33

“There is a dynamic in the talks over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.”

“It is seen from the statement of the foreign ministers of co-chair countries. There is a desire to intensify the negotiations and it has to be welcomed,” Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told reporters in Athens.

He said positions should be made closer to reach an agreement on the basic principles. The minister said it would pave the way for signing of comprehensive peace agreement.

Answering the question on the constructiveness of the Armenian side’s position, the minister noted that this meeting was of working character and the document on solution to the conflict had not been discussed.

“We talked about the format of negotiations. The last discussions on the documents were conducted by the president in Munich. Then the co-chairs started to work on the proposals adopted in that meeting. A schedule of the negotiations may be drawn up after the co-chairs’ visit,” the minister added.

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09:24

The Heads of Delegation of the OSCE Minsk Group, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov, Foreign Minister of France Bernard Kouchner, and Deputy Secretary of State of the United States James Steinberg, released the following statement on Dec. 1:

"The Heads of Delegation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov, Foreign Minister of France Bernard Kouchner, and Deputy Secretary of State of the United States James Steinberg met in Athens on December 1 with the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov and Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian.

The five Heads of Delegation recalled the commitments in the November 2008 Moscow Declaration and the December 2008 Helsinki OSCE Ministerial Statement. They noted the positive dynamic in the talks, demonstrated through six meetings this year between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. They agreed that the increasing frequency of these meetings has significantly contributed to an enhanced dialogue between the parties and forward movement toward finalizing the Basic Principles for the Peaceful Settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, proposed in Madrid on November 29, 2007.

Foreign Ministers Lavrov and Kouchner and Deputy Secretary Steinberg reiterated the commitment of their countries, as expressed in the Joint Statement on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at the L'Aquila Summit of the Eight on July 10, issued by their three Presidents, to support the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan as they complete work on the Basic Principles and urged that the parties complete this work as soon as possible. They stressed that agreement on the Basic Principles would provide the framework for a comprehensive settlement to promote a future of peace, stability, and prosperity for the entire region.

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan reported on progress during the course of this year in achieving common understandings on points of the Basic Principles. They stated the willingness of their countries to complete work on the Basic Principles, as stipulated by the Presidents of the Co-Chair countries at L'Aquila. The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to work intensively to resolve the remaining issues, to reach an agreement based, in particular, upon the principles of the Helsinki Final Act of Non-Use of Force or Threat of Force, Territorial Integrity, and the Equal Rights and Self-Determination of Peoples."
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09:19

3+2 meeting on the solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was held within the 17th meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Athens.

Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers Elmar Mammadyarov and Edward Nalbandian, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, as well as co-chairs Robert Bradtke (USA), Bernard Fassier (France), Yuriy Merzlyakov (Russia) and other officials attended the meeting.

The foreign ministers of the co-chair countries made a statement after the meeting.

They said there was a positive dynamic in the talks between the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents and it was decided to intensify the negotiations.

“It is important to intensify the negotiations toward the agreement on the basic principles of Madrid proposals about the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict."

Lavrov, Kouchner and Steinberg repeated the statement made by the leaders of their countries on July 10 in L’Aquila, Italy and emphasized that they will continue to support Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders to reach an agreement on the basic principles which will bring peace and stability.

"Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers also said that there was progress in the negotiations this year. The ministers expressed willingness to continue their efforts to reach certain results."

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09:14

OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs will visit the region this month, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov told Azerbaijani reporters during the 17th OSCE Ministerial Council in Athens.

The minister said they would discuss organizing presidents’ next meeting.

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Dec. 1
13:38

OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs Robert Bradtke (USA), Yuriy Merzlyakov (Russia) and Bernard Fassier (France), as well as foreign policy officials including U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov of Russia and Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner of France are also expected to participate at the meeting.

The co-chairs held separate meetings with the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Athens.

Personal representative to the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk also participated at the meeting.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said they attended a meeting and working dinner on Nov. 30.

He noted they held another one working meeting with the co-chairs Tuesday morning.

The minister said the sides have agreed to make a statement on the results of the meeting.

Kasprzyk said it was one of the working meetings organized within the OSCE ministerial meeting.

Special representative of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Georgia Goran Lenmarker will meet with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov on Tuesday.

Lenmarker met with the Armenian foreign minister on Nov. 30.

11:32

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met with OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs Yuri Merzlyakov, Bernard Fassier and Robert Bradtke as part of the Athens meeting of OSCE Ministerial Council.

The co-chairs also met with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan.

Personal Representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk attended both meetings.

Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers also attended a working dinner in the Intercontinental Hotel in Athens.

Armenian Foreign Ministry’s press service reports that the sides discussed the opportunities to issue a statement on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the frames of the 17th session of OSCE Ministerial Council.

/APA/