CO-CHAIRS: PROBLEM OF REFUGEES ONE OF KEY ISSUES IN NEGOTIATIONS OVER KARABAKH

ARKA
March 3, 2009

YEREVAN, March 3. /ARKA/. Problem of refugees is one of the key
subjects of negotiations over Karabakh, Bernard Fassier, French
co-chair of OSCE Minks Group, said on Tuesday.

American Co-chair Matthew Bryza, in his turn, stressed the importance
of this issue.

He said that the organizations dealing with refugees’ problems have
taken part in negotiations in Stepanakert.

Bryza said that all refugees regardless of their national identity
have the problems waiting for their solutions.

Karabakh conflict broke out in 1988 when Artsakh, mainly populated
by Armenians, declared its independence from Azerbaijan.

On December 10, 1991, a few days after the collapse of the Soviet
Union, a referendum took place in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the majority
of the population (99.89%) voted for secession from Azerbaijan.

Afterwards, large-scale military operations began. As a result,
Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven regions
adjacent to it.

On May 12, 1994 Bishkek cease-fire agreement, put an end to the
military operations.

Since 1992, negotiations over the peaceful settlement of the conflict
have been carried out under the OSCE Minsk Group’s mediation. The
group is co-chaired by USA, Russia and France.