CO-CHAIRS OF OSCE MINSK GROUP AGAIN MADE STATEMENT
Author: E.Huseynov
TREND, Azerbaijan
July 3 2006
The Co-Chairs continue to believe that the proposals developed
through the past two years of negotiations hold the best potential for
achieving a just and lasting settlement of the conflict, Trend reports
with reference to the July 3 statement of the co-chairs of OSCE Minsk
Group on regulation of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Co-chairs confirmed that it is time for Azerbaijani and Armenians
Presidents to make initiative for reaching a comprehensive agreement
in the process of regulation, and the co-chairs are ready to make
contribution to the sides to conclude the agreement if the Presidents
indicate they are prepared to do so. Although no additional meetings
between the sides under the auspices of the co-chairs are planned for
the immediate future, they will be ready to reengage if the parties
decide to pursue the talks with the political will that has thus far
been lacking.
It was stated in the statement that the proposals presented to the
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents may lead to a long-term settlement
of the conflict. The principles are based on the redeployment of
Armenian troops from Azerbaijani territories around Nagorno-Karabakh,
with special modalities for Kelbajar and Lachin districts (including
a corridor between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh), demilitarization
of those territories, and a referendum or population vote — at a
date and in a manner to be decided through further negotiations — to
determine the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh. Then, deployment
of an international peacekeeping force and a joint commission for
implementation of the agreement would be established, and international
assistance would be made available for demining, reconstruction,
and resettlement of internally displaced persons in the formerly
occupied territories and the war-affected regions of Nagorno-Karabakh.