OSCE MINSK GROUP TRY TO PREVENT POSSIBLE EFFORTS OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT SIDES TO AVOID RESPONSIBILITY: MINISTER

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 29 2007

Spain, Madrid /corr. Trend A.Maherremli / Written proposals regarding
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement were given to Azerbaijan and
Armenia in order to prevent the possible future efforts to avoid the
responsibility, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov,
reported to Trend Special Correspondent on 29 November in Madrid

On 29 November the Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group presented written
proposals regarding Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement. The pack
includes ten proposals.

The document was given at Azerbaijan Foreign Minister’s meeting with
the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Vardan Oskanyan, US Co-chair of the
OSCE Minsk Group, Matthew Bryza, Foreign Minister of Russia, Sergey
Lavrov, US Assistant Secretary of State for International Affairs,
Nicolas Bern, on 29 November in Madrid.

"The proposals were formed in a written manner in order to ensure
continuance of the talks after the presidential elections in both
countries," Mammadyarov said.

The presidential elections in Azerbaijan and Armenia have been
scheduled for 2008. According to the Minister, the sides are already
familiar with the proposals of the Minsk Group, which have been
discussed over the recent three years, and there is nothing new.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began
in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since
1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which
time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group ( Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful
negotiations.