STATEMENT ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH FOR THE OSCE MINISTERIAL MEETING

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[07:34 pm] 05 December, 2006

We are encouraged that negotiations in 2006, facilitated by the
Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and supported by the OSCE Chairman
in Office, have brought the sides closer to agreement on the basic
principles for the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

We welcome the support of the leaders of the G8 to these efforts,
expressed at the G8 Summit in St. Petersburg in July.

We urge Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to redouble their
efforts in the coming year to finalize these basic principles as soon
as possible.

We call on the sides, with the assistance of the international
community, to extend co-operation to conduct an environmental operation
to suppress the fires in the affected territories and to overcome
detrimental consequences. These measures can constitute significant
steps toward restoring confidence between the sides. The OSCE is
available to assist.

We also express our continuing support for the Personal Representative
of the OSCE Chairman in Office and his mission to the region and
particularly for their efficient assistance to the environmental
Assessment Mission and for their ongoing monitoring of the
cease-fire. We regret that incidents along the front lines continue
occasionally to result in loss of life on both sides to adhere strictly
to the cease-fire.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress