CO-CHAIRS OF THE OSCE MINSK GROUP MAKE STATEMENT
by SOPnewswire

Student Operated Press, FL

Dec 3 2007

Prior to the opening of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Madrid on 29
November 2007, the Foreign Minister of Russia S.Lavrov, the Foreign
of France B.Kouchner, and the Under Secretary of State of the United
States N.Burns, representing the Co-Chair countries of the OSCE Minsk
Group dealing with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, met with the Foreign
Minister of Armenia and Azerbaijan, V.Oskanian and E.Mammadyarov.

In this meeting these high-ranking representatives of the three
Co-Chair countries transmitted a joint proposal to the parties for
the consideration of their Presidents, consisting of a set of fair and
balanced Basic Principles of the peaceful settlement of the conflict.

During the meeting it was noted that over the last three years of talks
the parties have significantly narrowed their differences with the
mediation of the Co-Chairs. It was also agreed that the time has come
to bridge the last remaining differences. The Co-Chairs have offered
even-handed and equitable solutions to these final differences. They
also emphasized it is critical not to lose what has been achieved
during these past three years. The document of the Basic Principles
that was transmitted to the sides is considered by Moscow, Paris,
and Washington, as well as the OSCE, to be the most viable framework
for a future settlement.

The parties to the conflict were strongly urged to bring to a close
the current stage of negotiations by endorsing the Basic Principles
and commencing as soon as possible a new phase dedicated to drafting
a comprehensive Peace Agreement.

In addition the parties have been asked not to obstruct the resumption
of OSCE monitoring on the Line of Contact, to develop confidence
building measures in all possible fields, to prepare their populations
for peace, and to cease immediately all statements intimating war is
an option.

Finally, the three Co-Chair countries expressed once more their
readiness to assist the sides in their efforts to reach a peaceful
settlement of the conflict and to help with its implementation.