ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT WITH OSCE MINSK

/ ARKA /
October 27, 2009
YEREVAN

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met with the co-chairman of
OSCE Minsk group Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), Bernard Fassier (France),
Robert Bradtke (USA), as well as the personal representative of OSCE
Chairman, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk to resolve the Karabakh conflict
in Luxembourg.

"During the meeting they discussed the latest development around
the negotiation process on the Karabakh settlement, as well as the
opportunity of the co-chairs to visit the region," the press service
of the Armenian Foreign Ministry reported.

Nalbandyan was in Luxembourg to attend the 10th meeting of the Council
of Armenia-EU cooperation.

The beginning of the Karabakh conflict was settled in 1988, following
a statement to withdraw from Azerbaijan by the predominantly
Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh. On December 10, 1991 there was
held a referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh, in which 99.89% voted for full
independence from Azerbaijan.

Following that Azerbaijan initiated large-scale war fares that led
to a loss of control not only over Nagorno-Karabakh but also seven
adjacent districts.

>From 12th of May of 1994, after the entry of the tripartite agreement
on truce in the conflict zone hostilities, in which around 25-30
thousand people were killed from both sides and nearly 1 million were
forced to flee their homes, were ceased.

The agreement on the establishment of the ceasefire has been followed
until now. From 1992 to date, negotiations are being held for a
peaceful settlement of the conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France.