ArmInfo. The OSCE issued a statement following the visit of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak to Armenia.
Thus, according to the message of the Organization, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Slovakia's Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak emphasized the importance of creating perspectives for peace during his visit to Armenia today. He welcomed the commitment to reforms and discussed the ongoing work and next steps in the negotiations for a peaceful solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as the OSCE's longstanding engagement with and in Armenia.
The Official statement in particular stated: "Armenia is undergoing a series of political and economic reforms. In close co-operation with the Armenian authorities we are ready to deepen our engagement to support their efforts," Lajcak said, welcoming Armenia's reform agenda and the implementation of related programmes.
Accompanied by his Personal Representative on the Conflict Dealt with by the OSCE Minsk Conference, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Lajcak met with the political leadership in Yerevan, including President Armen Sarkissian; Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan; Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan; the President of the National Assembly Ararat Mirzoyan; as well as representatives of the de facto authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Lajcak highlighted the importance of maintaining the stable context for contact between the sides and working towards a peaceful and fair solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict respecting all principles, while calling on the sides to avoid hostile rhetoric.
"I welcome the significant decrease in ceasefire violations and reported casualties over the past six months," the Chairperson-in-Office said. "For peace to take hold, it needs to be accepted and owned by the people. And it requires that our efforts extend beyond politicians. The preparation of populations for peace is an important and complex matter, and deserves our full support."
Recalling the long-term interest and engagement of the international community, he also expressed his full support for the efforts of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, as well as for the work of his Personal Representative," the OSSE official statement notes.