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OSCE MG CALLS ON ARMENIA,AZERBAIJAN FOR CONSTRUCTIVE NEGOTIATIONS ON KARABAKH CONFLICT
Trend, Azerbaijan
May 12 2014
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 12
By Trend:
The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs made statement dedicated to the
twentieth anniversary of the 1994 ceasefire agreement between
Azerbaijan and Armenia.
"That agreement brought an end to outright war, halted the tragic
violence of previous years, and laid the groundwork for negotiations
that offered the sides a path to peace. Thanks to the resulting
truce a new generation of Armenians and Azerbaijanis grew up without
experiencing the horrors of war. The sides should do everything
possible to protect future generations from such experience", said
in agreement.
According to OSCE MG, the ceasefire agreement did not, however,
resolve the underlying conflict.
"It left the territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh occupied. The
absence of a final settlement has resulted in the ongoing displacement
of hundreds of thousands of people, the perpetual threat of escalating
violence along the international border and the Line of Contact, and
a misconception in some quarters that the status quo can be sustained
indefinitely", said in statement of OSCE.
According to statement, the sides have shown little willingness
to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the co-chairs
countries or make the political decisions necessary for progress in
this peace process.
"We share a common position on this conflict, and remain firmly
committed to helping the sides reach a peaceful settlement as soon
as possible based on the core principles of the UN Charter and the
Helsinki Final Act, particularly those pertaining to the non-use of
force, territorial integrity, and equal rights and self-determination
of peoples", said in statement.
According to statement, a settlement will have to include the elements
outlined by the Presidents of the co-chair countries in statements
from 2009 to 2013, which include the return of the territories
surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh, interim status for Nagorno-Karabakh
guaranteeing security and self-governance, a corridor linking Armenia
to Nagorno-Karabakh, final status of Nagorno-Karabakh to be determined
in the future by a legally-binding expression of will, the right
of all internally-displaced persons and refugees to return, and
international security guarantees, including a peacekeeping operation.
"In November we saw a promising renewal of dialogue at the highest
levels. We call on the sides to enter into constructive negotiations
resulting in a peace agreement based on these elements in order to
bring about a lasting settlement to the conflict. Such a settlement
will not be possible without a basis of trust and understanding between
the Armenian and Azerbaijani people. We call on the sides to commit
to active people to people programs and security confidence building
measures to reinforce the peace process. Armenians and Azerbaijanis
deserve to live in peace and security, and we stand ready to help. The
sides must take the necessary steps towards peace. When they do,
it will be with the full support of the OSCE and the international
community", said in statement of OSCE.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in
1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a
result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied
20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and
seven surrounding districts.
The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are currently
holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.
Trend, Azerbaijan
May 12 2014
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 12
By Trend:
The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs made statement dedicated to the
twentieth anniversary of the 1994 ceasefire agreement between
Azerbaijan and Armenia.
"That agreement brought an end to outright war, halted the tragic
violence of previous years, and laid the groundwork for negotiations
that offered the sides a path to peace. Thanks to the resulting
truce a new generation of Armenians and Azerbaijanis grew up without
experiencing the horrors of war. The sides should do everything
possible to protect future generations from such experience", said
in agreement.
According to OSCE MG, the ceasefire agreement did not, however,
resolve the underlying conflict.
"It left the territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh occupied. The
absence of a final settlement has resulted in the ongoing displacement
of hundreds of thousands of people, the perpetual threat of escalating
violence along the international border and the Line of Contact, and
a misconception in some quarters that the status quo can be sustained
indefinitely", said in statement of OSCE.
According to statement, the sides have shown little willingness
to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the co-chairs
countries or make the political decisions necessary for progress in
this peace process.
"We share a common position on this conflict, and remain firmly
committed to helping the sides reach a peaceful settlement as soon
as possible based on the core principles of the UN Charter and the
Helsinki Final Act, particularly those pertaining to the non-use of
force, territorial integrity, and equal rights and self-determination
of peoples", said in statement.
According to statement, a settlement will have to include the elements
outlined by the Presidents of the co-chair countries in statements
from 2009 to 2013, which include the return of the territories
surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh, interim status for Nagorno-Karabakh
guaranteeing security and self-governance, a corridor linking Armenia
to Nagorno-Karabakh, final status of Nagorno-Karabakh to be determined
in the future by a legally-binding expression of will, the right
of all internally-displaced persons and refugees to return, and
international security guarantees, including a peacekeeping operation.
"In November we saw a promising renewal of dialogue at the highest
levels. We call on the sides to enter into constructive negotiations
resulting in a peace agreement based on these elements in order to
bring about a lasting settlement to the conflict. Such a settlement
will not be possible without a basis of trust and understanding between
the Armenian and Azerbaijani people. We call on the sides to commit
to active people to people programs and security confidence building
measures to reinforce the peace process. Armenians and Azerbaijanis
deserve to live in peace and security, and we stand ready to help. The
sides must take the necessary steps towards peace. When they do,
it will be with the full support of the OSCE and the international
community", said in statement of OSCE.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in
1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a
result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied
20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and
seven surrounding districts.
The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are currently
holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.