Interfax - Russia & CIS Military Newswire
 Friday 10:25 AM MSK


OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs concerned about incidents, casualties in
Karabakh, urge Baku, Yerevan to reach compromise

BAKU. Sept 28

The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs (Igor Popov of Russia, Stephane
Visconti of France and Andrew Schofer of the United States) have
expressed concern about incidents and casualties on the Karabakh
contact line at a meeting with the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and
Armenia, Elmar Mammadyarov and Zohrab Mnatsakanyan.

"The Co-Chairs and the Ministers discussed the situation in the region
and sought clarification with respect to several recent statements and
incidents of concern. The Co-Chairs expressed deep regret over the
continuing and unnecessary loss of life," the co-chairs said in a
statement after the meeting.

"They cautioned the Ministers about the dangers of escalation, called
on the parties to engage constructively in a positive atmosphere, and
to avoid inflammatory rhetoric," the statement said.

According to it, "The Co-Chairs underscored that a comprehensive
settlement will require compromises on all sides."

"In this context, the Ministers confirmed the importance of taking
measures to intensify the negotiation process and to take additional
steps to reduce tensions," the statement said.

"The Ministers agreed to meet again before the end of the year," it said.

"The Co-Chairs plan to visit the region in the near future and will
then brief the OSCE Minsk Group and the Permanent Council on the
status of negotiations," the statement said.

The co-chairs "met separately and jointly with the Foreign Minister of
Armenia, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, and the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan,
Elmar Mammadyarov, between 25 and 27 September on the margins of the
UN General Assembly," the statement said.

Te mk