ArmInfo. The statement of OSCE MG group, published today and made based on the results of meetings with Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, is positive in common, David Babayan, the press secretary to Narogno Karabakh President shared his opinion.
"The part of the statement reading that they do not recognize Nagorno Karabakh as an independent state, conforms to reality. But I would like to mention that our people has set the political status of Nagorno Karabakh on September 2, 1991. Today we conduct referendum not to change our status but to implement constitutional reforms," Babayan mentioned during his conversation with ArmInfo reporter. At the same time he appreciated the fact that co-chairs recognized the referendum as a public life regulating tool. According to him, that is an important fact.
Babayan referred also to mediators statement regarding the handover of Azerbaijani diversant's body handover. "Of course that's good that they appreciate this step of Armenia, but,at the same time, they don't say a word regarding the fact that Azerbaijan has arrested a guiltless man (meaning Alexander Lapshin). It is important to react more addressed and strict to such steps of Azerbaijan," the NKR President's Press Secretary mentioned.
The Co-Chairs discussed with the Ministers the current situation along the Line of Contact and the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. The Co-Chairs reiterated that there is no alternative to a peaceful solution to the conflict and that war is not an option, and called upon the sides to exercise restraint on the terrain as well as in their public communications and to prepare their population for peace and not for war. The Co- Chairs also urged the Sides to adhere strictly to the 1994/95 ceasefire agreements that constitute the foundation of the cessation of hostilities.
The Co-Chairs recalled the May 2011 joint statements of their Presidents in Deauville emphasizing that the use of force would only bring more suffering and devastation and would be condemned by the international community. The Co-Chairs shared their views with the Sides on the steps which should be taken toward implementing decisions from the 2016 Summits in Vienna and St. Petersburg aimed at stabilizing the situation in the conflict zone. The Co-Chairs stressed to the Ministers the need to demonstrate greater flexibility and to resume comprehensive negotiations on reaching a lasting settlement as soon as possible.
The Co-Chairs recognized that the Armenian authorities' recent decision to return the body of an Azerbaijani serviceman was a helpful humanitarian gesture. The two Ministers reiterated their commitment to strictly observe their international humanitarian obligations including those of the Astrakhan Declaration of October 2010 issued by the Presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the Russian Federation.