Wednesday, April 22 2020 10:46

ArmInfo. Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, and the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew  Schofer of the United States of America) have held frequent  consultations remotely since mid-March, including a joint video  conference on 21 April. Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative  of the OSCE Chairperson-in- Office, also participated in these  consultations.

According to the OSCE statement, during the consultations, the  participants discussed the impact of the global health crisis on the  region and recent developments on the ground.  They also considered  next steps in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement process in line with  their joint statement issued in Geneva on 30 January 2020.

It was acknowledged that, due to the extraordinary situation  resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of  previously agreed humanitarian measures was postponed.  The  face-to-face Ministerial meetings and the visits of the Co-Chairs to  the region agreed upon in Geneva have also been postponed.   Nevertheless, the necessary work to prepare these activities  continues.

The Co-Chairs underlined the importance of observing the ceasefire  strictly and refraining from provocative actions in the current  environment and called on the sides to take measures to reduce  tensions further.  They also expressed appreciation for the continued  work of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office  under the present circumstances and stressed the need for monitoring  exercises to resume as quickly as possible.

Considering the great challenges now confronting all populations  without regard to political boundaries, and which serve as stark  reminders of the preciousness of every human life, the Foreign  Ministers and the Co-Chairs expressed the hope that the resolve seen  in the global pandemic response will bring a creative and  constructive impetus to the peace process. The Co-Chairs drew  attention to the 23 March appeal by the Secretary General of the  United Nations for global ceasefire measures during the current  health crisis and to the Co-Chairs' 19 March statement.

The Foreign Ministers and Co-Chairs agreed to remain in close contact  and to continue negotiations in person as soon as possible.