CO-CHAIRS PROPOSE ORGANIZING THE FIRST MEETING BETWEEN THE LEADERS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN

armradio.am
20.03.2008 12:05

"The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Ambassadors Yuri Merzlyakov
for the Russian Federation, and Bernard Fassier for France, as well
as Mike Carpenter, Advisor to U.S. Co-Chair Matt Bryza) met with the
Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanian in Vienna on the
14th of March and with the Azerbaijani Minister of Foreign Affairs
Elmar Mammadyarov in Paris on the 15th of March.

After these meetings the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs recall that,
as reiterated before the vote on the "Resolution on the Situation in
the Occupied Territories of Azerbaijan" at the UN General Assembly,
France, the Russian Federation and the United States support the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and therefore do not recognize the
independence of Nagorno-Karabakh, while holding that the future status
of Nagorno-Karabakh is a matter of negotiations between the parties.

The Co-Chairs remain convinced that any peaceful and equitable
settlement of the conflict will require unavoidable compromises among
the parties. They underline the urgent need to resume the negotiations
after the pause due to the presidential election in Armenia. In that
respect, they note with satisfaction the affirmation of both Foreign
Ministers of the need to continue the discussions between the sides.

The Co-Chairs proposed to the Foreign Ministers to organize the
first meeting between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan as soon
as possible.

The Co-Chairs express their sincere hope that this meeting, accepted in
principle by the two sides, will take place and lead to the resumption
of negotiations for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict on the basis of the Document on the Basic principles for the
peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, presented to
the sides on November 29, 2007 in Madrid before the opening of the
OSCE Ministerial Council.

Finally, at a time when serious clashes resulting in the loss of life
have occurred along the Line of Contact, the Co-Chairs urge both sides
to refrain from unilateral and maximalist actions on the ground, at the
negotiating table, as well as in their public rhetoric, and to fully
and strictly comply with their obligations relating to the cease-fire."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress