Clinton: United States stands for resumption of efforts on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution - UPDATE

The United States supports the resumption of efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said at the OSCE Astana summit today. She noted that the resolution of the conflict must be based on the Helsinki Principles.

"History will judge us not by what we say today at the summit, but rather by what we do, and by adhering to the Helsinki Principles," Clinton said.

The OSCE summit is held in Astana on Dec. 1-2 and brings together the presidents and prime ministers of 56 OSCE member countries and 12 OSCE partner countries, as well as the heads of 68 international organizations.

The Helsinki process was launched in 1975 with the final act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE's predecessor). The Helsinki process is intended to ensure peace, security and stability in Europe.

Clinton noted the importance of the fact that the current OSCE summit is held in east of Istanbul, which hosted the last OSCE summit in 1999.

"The Astana summit is not just the first after the 11-year hiatus, but also the first in east of Istanbul. We must use this opportunity to re-establish communications and transfer the principles of the Helsinki pact, the basic principles of which are respect for territorial integrity and mutual respect," Clinton said.

Security in the OSCE is one of the main topics that the Astana summit will discuss. The OSCE summit is an outstanding event in the political life of Kazakhstan after gaining independence.

The OSCE summit is held in Astana on Dec. 1-2 and will bring together presidents and prime ministers from 56 OSCE member countries and 12 OSCE partner countries, as well as the heads of 68 international organizations.

Given that the OSCE is an advisory body, the only way to discuss the pressing issues are such summits. Over the years, the situation in the world security and threats have greatly changed and the Astana summit will enable the OSCE countries to discuss the current situation.

The OSCE should respond more effectively to challenges, Clinton said noting the desire to achieve adoption of an efficient instrument at the summit based on the Helsinki pact.

"It is necessary to improve the ability to respond to conflicts and strengthen the organization's role in conflict prevention, in which no other organization can be compared with the OSCE," Clinton said.

She noted the need to renew the OSCE's efforts in settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which will be based on principles developed under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Speaking about the security situation in other OSCE member-states, Clinton expressed gratitude to Kazakhstan for prompt response to the situation in Kyrgyzstan.

Clinton said that it is encouraging that Russia recognizes the need to improve existing opportunities. "I hope we be able to find a format that will impartially assess the developments in Georgia and Kyrgyzstan."


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