KAZAKHSTAN TO GIVE RENEWED IMPETUS TO KARABAKH PROCESS

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.02.2010 12:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Kazakhstan intends to give renewed impetus to the
Karabakh conflict settlement process, Kazakhstan’s top diplomat said.

"We are convinced that only the sides involved in the conflict are
capable to settle it. The other participants of the process are just
trying to assist peaceful resolution of the problem, which hampers
sustainable development of the region," OSCE Chairman-in-Office,
Kazakh Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev said during a joint news
conference with his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian.

"Astana is cautiously optimistic about the further developments in
the process," he said.

Asked by a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter whether Kazakh chairmanship in the
OSCE will take action for withdrawal of snipers from the front line,
Mr. Saudabayev said "any measures for improvement of the situation,
including withdrawal of snipers, will be supported."

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said, for his part,
that Azerbaijan has always rejected Madrid Principles as the basis
for Karabakh conflict resolution.

"As to working documents presented by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
during the meetings, these are questions to be studied by the sides. I
suppose Azerbaijan will submit its proposals soon and we will set to
discussion," the Minister said.

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out in
1988, as result of the ethnic cleansing the latter launched in the
final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from
1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994
(when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most
of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions is
now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are
holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.