ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER: NEGOTIATIONS WITHIN OSCE MOST EFFICIENT FORMAT OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS

ARKA
Sep 17, 2008

YEREVAN, September 17. /ARKA/. Negotiations within OSCE are the
most efficient format of settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
Armenian Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan said during his meeting
with French Co-Chair of OSCE Minsk Group Bernard Fassier.

At the meeting Armenian Minister voiced his support to efforts of
the Co-Chairs of OSCE Minsk Group, the Press Secretary of Armenian
Defense Ministry colonel Seyran Shakhsuvaryan told ARKA News Agency.

The sides discussed the regional situation and the impact of the
recent events on the Karabakh peace process.

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict started in 1988 when Nagorno-Karabakh
with prevailingly Armenian population declared its withdrawal from
Azerbaijan.

On December 10 1991, just a couple of days before the collapse of
the Soviet Union, a referendum was held in Nagorno-Karabakh in the
presence of international observers where 99.89% of the population
voted for full independence from Azerbaijan.

In response, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale war against
Nagorno-Karabakh.

Active operations were ceased on May 12 1994 by signing a cease-fire
agreement that has been maintained since then.

Since 1992 negotiations have been held on peaceful settlement of the
conflict under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by
the USA, Russia and France.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress