Tweet
ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN PLEDGE KARABAKH PEACE DURING SOCHI GAMES
Agence France Presse
February 6, 2014 Thursday 2:35 PM GMT
YEREVAN, Feb 06 2014
Armenia and Azerbaijan have vowed to observe a ceasefire over the
disputed Nagorny Karabakh region during the Sochi Olympic Games,
mediators said in a statement Thursday.
"The sides stated their intention to strengthen observance of the
ceasefire and avoid further escalation, particularly in light of
the upcoming Olympic Games in Sochi," said a statement from the
Organisation for the Security and Co-operation in Europe's (OSCE)
Minsk Group.
The OSCE has been spearheading attempts to negotiate a solution to
the smouldering conflict, which has shown signs of reigniting in
recent weeks.
The Russian, French and American co-chairs of the Minsk Group met
the presidents of the two former Soviet states in their respective
capitals over the past few days, the statement added.
Arch-foes Armenia and Azerbaijan are locked in a festering decades-long
feud over the disputed region of Nagorny Karabakh.
Last month saw an increase in violence along the volatile frontline,
with both sides accusing each other of tit-for-tat raids and at least
four soldiers killed.
Armenia-backed separatists seized Nagorny Karabakh from Azerbaijan
in a 1990s war that killed 30,000 people.
Despite years of negotiations since a 1994 ceasefire, the two sides
have yet to sign a peace deal.
Azerbaijan has threatened to take back the disputed region by force
if negotiations do not yield results, while Armenia has vowed to
retaliate against any military action.
The Winter Olympic Games are set to open officially Friday and run
until February 23 in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, just across the
Caucasus mountains that lie to the north of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
mkh-del/ma/dh
Agence France Presse
February 6, 2014 Thursday 2:35 PM GMT
YEREVAN, Feb 06 2014
Armenia and Azerbaijan have vowed to observe a ceasefire over the
disputed Nagorny Karabakh region during the Sochi Olympic Games,
mediators said in a statement Thursday.
"The sides stated their intention to strengthen observance of the
ceasefire and avoid further escalation, particularly in light of
the upcoming Olympic Games in Sochi," said a statement from the
Organisation for the Security and Co-operation in Europe's (OSCE)
Minsk Group.
The OSCE has been spearheading attempts to negotiate a solution to
the smouldering conflict, which has shown signs of reigniting in
recent weeks.
The Russian, French and American co-chairs of the Minsk Group met
the presidents of the two former Soviet states in their respective
capitals over the past few days, the statement added.
Arch-foes Armenia and Azerbaijan are locked in a festering decades-long
feud over the disputed region of Nagorny Karabakh.
Last month saw an increase in violence along the volatile frontline,
with both sides accusing each other of tit-for-tat raids and at least
four soldiers killed.
Armenia-backed separatists seized Nagorny Karabakh from Azerbaijan
in a 1990s war that killed 30,000 people.
Despite years of negotiations since a 1994 ceasefire, the two sides
have yet to sign a peace deal.
Azerbaijan has threatened to take back the disputed region by force
if negotiations do not yield results, while Armenia has vowed to
retaliate against any military action.
The Winter Olympic Games are set to open officially Friday and run
until February 23 in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, just across the
Caucasus mountains that lie to the north of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
mkh-del/ma/dh