Armenpress
OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS URGE ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN
TO PREPARE THEIR PUBLICS “FOR PEACE NOT WAR”
YEREVAN, MARCH 10, ARMENPRESS: The three co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group, which deals with the conflict
over Nagorno-Karabakh, have issued a statement
regretting the lack of forward movement in the recent
negotiations and calling upon Armenia and Azerbaijan
to “work vigorously” to achieve a result in 2006.
Their statement reads: “The Co-Chairs of the OSCE’s
Minsk Group, Ambassadors Yuri Merzlyakov of Russia,
Steven Mann of the United States, and Bernard Fassier
of France, joined by Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, the
Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office, met in Washington on 7 and 8 March
to discuss the latest developments regarding the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and to assess the future
direction of mediation efforts. The Co-Chairs reviewed
the discussions that took place in Rambouillet on 10
and 11 February and expressed again their gratitude to
the President of the French Republic for making that
meeting between President Robert Kocharian and
President Ilham Aliyev possible.
Assessing the current state of affairs in the
region, the Co-Chairs reaffirmed their belief that a
great deal of progress has been achieved in the past
year and a half. They regret that the process has not
moved forward in recent weeks though, despite ample
opportunity to do so. They urged both parties to build
on the basic principles for a future settlement that
have already been developed in order to achieve an
agreement in 2006.
Referring to their joint statement at the OSCE
Permanent Council on 2 March, the Co-Chairs continue
to believe that objective conditions make 2006 a
highly favorable year for substantial progress, and
they call upon the Governments of Armenia and
Azerbaijan to work vigorously to achieve this result.
The Co-Chairs further call upon the Government of each
country to take steps with their publics to prepare
them for peace, and not for war. The Co-Chairs will
decide on their next trip to the region after further
assessment of the readiness of the parties. Their next
meeting is planned for 20 March in Istanbul.”