OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS RELEASE JOINT STATEMENT ON THE RESULTS OF ZURICH MEETING OF ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENTS

ARMENPRESS
Jan 29, 2009

YEREVAN, JANUARY 29, ARMENPRESS: The co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk
Group Bernard Fassier (France), Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), Matthew
Bryza (USA) released a joint statement today on the results of the
Zurich meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents.

An official from the OSCE office said that in the statement by
chronological order the recent steps directed towards the regulation
of Nagorno Karabakh conflict are enumerated.

"The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group traveled to Baku on January 19,
2009, where they met with President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammedyarov, and to Yerevan on January 20, 2009, where they met
with President Serzh Sargsyan and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

The Co-Chairs met again jointly with Foreign Ministers Mammedyarov
and Nalbandian in Zurich on January 27, 2009, and organized a joint
meeting with Presidents Aliyev and Sargsyan in Zurich on January 28,
2009, on the margins of the World Economic Forum.

The Co-Chairs explored with the two Presidents their thoughts on how
to finalize the Basic Principles on the peaceful settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, proceeding from the proposal presented to
the sides at the OSCE Ministerial Conference in Madrid in November
2007.

The Co-Chairs agreed to work with the Foreign Ministers on elaborating
proposals for the consideration of the two Presidents on the most
important remaining differences between the sides existing within the
framework of the Basic Principles. The Co-Chairs hope the parties will
be able to bridge these remaining differences in the nearest future to
secure a peace agreement. Their goal is a just and balanced agreement
based on the Helsinki Final Act principles of territorial integrity,
self-determination, and non-use of force."