Interfax - Russia & CIS Diplomatic Panorama
July 19, 2017 Wednesday 7:43 PM MSK


Moscow favors upgrading of OSCE monitors' capabilities in Nagorno-Karabakh

 MOSCOW. July 19

No decisions on stepping up the work of the Organization for Security
and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Nagorno-Karabakh have been made
because of the conflicting parties' positions, Russian Permanent
Representative to the OSCE Alexander Lukashevich said.

"Indeed, there is the need to step up operational capabilities on the
contact line to monitor ceasefire observance and non-resumption of
military confrontation. Unfortunately, no such decisions have yet been
achieved because the positions of the two conflicting parties run
counter to each other," Lukashevich said to journalists during a TV
link with Vienna on Wednesday.

"But the objective is very certain, and it is supported by the
co-chairs [of the OSCE Minsk Group]. I think the OSCE is currently
unlikely to be able to do more than the three Minsk Group co-chairs,"
he said.

"The co-chairs are not magicians, and they cannot ensure a level of
security guaranteeing that the parties won't use force," he said.