NEW OSCE HEAD URGES SOLUTION OF LINGERING CONFLICTS
Trend News Agency
April 10 2008
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan, Baku, 10 April / corr TrendNews K.Ramazanova /
The OSCE needs to focus on the issues where it can make a real
difference, including solving the region’s frozen conflicts, the
OSCE Chairman-in-Office, newly appointed Finnish Foreign Minister
Alexander Stubb, told the Organization’s Permanent Council on 10 April.
"We must seriously look for possible solutions to the so-called frozen
conflicts. My aim is to re-energize efforts towards the peaceful
settlement of these conflicts," said the Chairman-in-Office,"
he stated.
"I sincerely hope that the efforts of the Finnish Chairmanship are met
with constructive engagement by all the parties."The conflict between
the two countries of the South Caucasus began in 1988 due to Armenian
territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since 1992, Armenian Armed
Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan including the Nagorno-Karabakh
region and its seven surrounding districts. In 1994, Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time the active
hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia,
France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful negotiations.
He supported the existing negotiation mechanisms, "I continue to
support the existing negotiation mechanisms, including the OSCE Minsk
Group established to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict".
Stubb also expressed concern over recent incidents in Nagorno-Karabakh
and South Ossetia and appealed to all the related parties to refrain
from violence.
At the beginning of March, the ceasefire regime was violated in
the frontline between Azerbaijan and Armenia, resulting in death
and injuries.