OSCE CHAIRMAN PLEDGES FULL SUPPORT FOR MEDIATORS’ NAGORNO-KARABAKH PEACE EFFORTS

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[09:55 pm] 10 May, 2007

MADRID, 10 May 2007 – The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Spanish Foreign
Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, met the three Co-Chairs of the OSCE
Minsk Group today and pledged Spain’s full support for their intensive
mediation efforts to assist the parties in finding a resolution to
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Ambassador Bernard Fassier of France, Ambassador Yuri Merzlyakov
of the Russian Federation and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
Matthew Bryza of the United States briefed Minister Moratinos on the
state of the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"The three Co-Chairs have worked extremely hard and in close
co-operation to bring the sides closer together," said the
Chairman-in-Office. "I urge Armenia and Azerbaijan to do all that
is in their power, in this political context, to take the necessary
steps in order to reach a solution to this conflict, which has lasted
so long. I intend to make absolutely clear my full support for the
Co-Chairs on the occasion of my forthcoming visit to Baku and Yerevan".

Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk of Poland, the Chairman-in-Office’s
personal representative for this conflict, also attended the meeting.

Later this week the Co-chairs will hold talks with the Foreign
Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Strasbourg. Ambassador Kasprzyk
will also attend.