NEGOTIATIONS PROCESS FOR NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT IS ONE OF IMPORTANT TARGETS FOR OSCE: OSCE CHAIRMAN-IN-OFFICE

Trend News Agency
Feb 28 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 28 February /corr. Trend News K.Ramazanova / The
progress in the negotiation process on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement and prompt achievement of results, are one of the important
targets of the OSCE, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Finnish Foreign
Minister Ilkka Kanerva said in Baku on 28 February.

"There is comprehensive support to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement," he said.

Kanerva said that the international community trusts the Minsk Group
and supports the settlement of the conflict within this framework. "I
do not oppose the UNO, but I do not consider it necessary to replace
the Minsk Group with the UNO," he said. According to him, the OSCE
will continue supporting the process of the Armenian-Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement within the OSCE Minsk Group. It
is a priority for the OSCE.

"This conflict should be settled within the international laws and
in a peaceful manner," Kanerva said.

With regards to the participation of the Nagorno-Karabakh communities
in the negotiations process, he said this topic remains open.

According to him, they may participate in the talks, but this is not
the high time for it.

The conflict between the two countries of South Caucasus began in 1988,
due to territorial claims by Armenia against Azerbaijan.

Armenia has occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani land including the
Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven neighboring Districts. Since
1992, these territories have been under the occupation of the Armenian
Forces. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement
which ended the active hostilities. The Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group ( Russia, France and USA) are currently holding the peaceful
negotiations.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress