GREECE AIMS TO RESOLVE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT: PM

Trend News Agency
Feb 17 2009
Azerbaijan

The Greek OSCE chairman considers resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict a priority.

Greece fully supports the Minsk Group’s efforts to resolve the
conflict, Greek Prime Minister and OSCE Chairman Kostas Karamanlis
said in an interview with Trend News on Feb. 17.

"The organization’s framework is indispensable," he said.

Greece supports the Minstk Group’s efforts to resolve the conflict
on the basis of the Madrid Document.

The Minsk Group’s proposals were formally submitted to the Azerbaijani
and Armenian foreign ministers at the Madrid OSCE summit in November
2007 and serve as the basis for negotiations.

"A priority of the Greek chairmanship is to promote the peaceful
resolution of conflicts," Karamanlis said.

Greece received the OSCE chairmanship from Finland on Jan. 1.

Greece is committed to working as a broker with all sides in the
spirit of openness, the Greek PM said.

"The Greek chairmanship will work to ensure that regional peoples
enjoy the fruits of a negotiated, peaceful settlement this year,"
Karamanlis said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed
forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are currently
holding the peace negotiations.