OSCE MG: Kocharian And Aliyev Should Show Initiative In Karabakh Iss

OSCE MG: KOCHARIAN AND ALIYEV SHOULD SHOW INITIATIVE IN KARABAKH ISSUE

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.07.2006 13:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yesterday OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs made a recurrent
statement. It says that principles of conflict settlement in Nagorno
Karabakh, the Co-Chairs have presented to Azerbaijan and Armenia,
are interpreted in different ways. The statement specifically notes,
"Taking it into account we consider necessary to make the following
statement.

Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group reported to the OSCE Permanent
Council on the outcomes of the talks with parties of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict. They presented a report on intensive mediation aimed
at coming to an agreement over settlement basic principles within
past seven months. The report contains information on the outcomes
of the three individual and joint visits of the co-chairs to Baku
and Yerevan, two meetings with Azeri and Armenian FMs, Rambouillet
and Bucharest meetings with participation of Kocharian and Aliyev
and visits to the region in May at the level of Deputy FMs of OSCE
MG Co-Chair countries."

The statement notes that mediation efforts of the co-chairs have
resulted in handing fair, balanced and practical basic principles over
NK settlement. "This proposal may result in singing of a settlement
agreement desirable to both parties. The essence of those principles
lies in withdrawal of Armenian troops from regions around NK and
providing a special model to Kelbajar and Lachin regions (including the
corridor between Armenia and NK). The date and form of demilitarization
of those regions should be determined at later stages of the talks –
at the time of holding a referendum on NK status. According to those
principles, the parties will stop threatening each other and will
fulfill their promises on international and bilateral security."

Over the issue of the coming referendum on determining the status
of Nagorno Karabakh the Co-Chairs noted that arrangements should be
held for its holding. "It is a pity that the Presidents during their
latest meeting in Bucharest could not agree over those principles. We
believe that both Presidents should take the initiative in their hands
to attain progress in the settlement. In case the Presidents come
to an agreement, we are ready to assist in concluding a treaty." The
Co-Chairs said no additional meetings are planned on their initiative
in the near future. "In case the Presidents agree to continue the
talks, we can again engage in the matter," reports Azeri-Press.