Friday, November 10 2017 13:44

ArmInfo.Russia expects that the upcoming contacts of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs will give an additional impetus to the peaceful settlement of the long-  standing Karabakh conflict. Permanent Representative of Russia to the OSCE Alexander Lukashevich stated this in Vienna at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council.

He noted that Russia, in coordination with other co-chairing  countries of the OSCE Minsk Group, is ready to continue mediating  efforts to assist the parties in developing a mutually acceptable  consensus basis for the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.  "The meeting of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, held after  a long break in Geneva on October 16, was a significant result of the  mediation efforts of the co-chairs, and it is important that at the  end of the summit the parties agreed to intensify the negotiation  process.It is sure that this will further increase confidence between  the parties and, as a result, On the essential aspects of the  settlement, we hope that the constructive atmosphere established at  the meeting of the presidents in Geneva will be We count on the  effectiveness of the meetings of the co-chairs with the Armenian and  Azeri FMs planned before the end of the year, "said Russia's  Permanent Representative to the OSCE.

At the same time Lukashevich stressed that the maintenance of peace  and stability in the region is a prerequisite for the productive  activity of the mediation mission of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs.  "In this regard, we highly appreciate the commitment of the sides to  take additional measures to reduce tensions on the contact line of  the troops, and again note that this goal would be met by the  practical implementation of the agreements reached at the talks of  the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Vienna on May 16 and St.  Petersburg on June 20, to reduce military risks, in particular, to  increase the number of OSCE monitors in the conflict zone.I hope for  an early agreement of the algorithm for expanding the office of the  personal representative of the acting of the OSCE trainer on the  basis of a scheme that would qualitatively enhance the capacity to  monitor the situation in the region.The stability of the joint  mechanism for investigating armed incidents in the conflict zone  would also meet the interests of stability on the contact line of the  troops and the Azerbaijani-Armenian border. to strengthen the  positive atmosphere in the dialogue of the parties and further  stimulate the negotiation process, "Lukashevich concluded.