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BAKU: Co-Chairmen Of The MG Made Statement Related To NK Conflict Se

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  • BAKU: Co-Chairmen Of The MG Made Statement Related To NK Conflict Se

    CO-CHAIRMEN OF THE MG MADE STATEMENT RELATED TO NK CONFLICT SETTLEMENT ON THE LAST TALKS PROCESS

    Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
    July 3 2006

    Co-Chairmen of OSCE Minsk Group made statement today. According to
    the statement entered APA from the embassy of France to Azerbaijan
    "Taking into account recent speculation about the basic principles
    for a peaceful settlement of the NK conflict proposed to both parties
    by the Minsk Group Co-Chairs, it is necessary to make the following
    clarification.

    On June 22 the Minsk Group Co-Chairs reported to the OSCE Permanent
    Council on the results of the past months of negotiations between
    the sides on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. They reported on their
    intensive mediation activities over the past seven months aimed at
    achieving agreement on the basic principles for a settlement. These
    included three visits of the Co-Chairs to Baku and Yerevan, three
    times together and several more times separately, two meetings of
    the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Azerbaijan, and two
    summits between Presidents Kocharian and Aliyev, first in Rambouillet
    in February and then in Bucharest in early June. In addition, a joint
    Mission of Representatives of the Co-Chair countries at the Deputy
    Foreign Minister level traveled to the region in May. Throughout
    their mediation efforts, the Co-Chairs stressed, as always, the
    belief of their nations and of the international community that the
    Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can be resolved in no other way than a
    peaceful one. They also stressed the need for the leaders of Armenia
    and Azerbaijan to prepare their publics for peace and not for war.

    The mediation efforts of the Co-Chairs resulted in the proposal
    to Presidents Aliyev and Kocharian of a set of fair, balanced,
    and workable core principles that could pave the way for the two
    sides to draft a far-reaching settlement agreement. The principles
    are based on the redeployment of Armenian troops from Azerbaijani
    territories around Nagorno-Karabakh, with special modalities for
    Kelbajar and Lachin districts (including a corridor between Armenia
    and Nagorno-Karabakh), demilitarization of those territories, and
    a referendum or population vote -- at a date and in a manner to
    be decided through further negotations -- to determine the final
    legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh. Deployment of an international
    peacekeeping force and a joint commission for implementation of the
    agreement would be established, and international assistance would
    be made available for demining, reconstruction, and resettlement of
    internally displaced persons in the formerly occupied territories
    and the war-affected regions of Nagorno-Karabakh. Certain interim
    arrangements for Nagorno-Karabakh would allow for interaction with
    providers of international assistance. The sides would renounce the
    use or threat of use of force, and international and bilateral security
    guarantees and assurances would be put in place. Regarding the vote to
    determine the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh, the Co-Chairs stressed
    that suitable pre-conditions for such a vote would have to be achieved
    so that the vote would take place in a non-coercive environment in
    which well-informed citizens have had ample opportunity to consider
    their positions after a vigorous debate in the public arena.

    Unfortunately, at their most recent meeting in Bucharest the Presidents
    did not reach agreement on these principles. The Co-Chairs continue
    to believe that the proposals developed through the past two years
    of negotiations hold the best potential for achieving a just and
    lasting settlement of the conflict. They strongly believe that it is
    now time for the two Presidents to take the initiative for achieving
    a breakthrough in the settlement process based on these principles,
    and they stand ready to assist the parties to conclude an agreement
    if the Presidents indicate they are prepared to do so.

    Although no additional meetings between the sides under the auspices
    of the Co-Chairs are planned for the immediate future, they will be
    ready to reengage if the parties decide to pursue the talks with the
    political will that has thus far been lacking.
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