Friday, December 6 2019 10:57

ArmInfo. Heads of delegations of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries (Russian  Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Secretary of State for European and  Foreign Affairs Jean-Baptiste Lemoine, and Acting Assistant Secretary  of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Phil Ricker) made a  statement emphasizing strong commitment to mediation in the peaceful  settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The statement received by ArmInfo from the OSCE, in particular, notes  that the heads of delegation of the co-chairing countries positively  note the relatively low incidence of violence on the contact line and  the international border and express gratitude to the parties for the  direct use of direct communication links to reduce the risk of  escalation, in accordance with a ministerial agreement reached during  consultations in Washington in June.

"We welcome the concrete steps taken last year to reduce tensions and  prepare the population for peace, as the co-chairing countries called  for in the Milan statement in December 2018 and in accordance with  the ministers' agreement in Paris in January 2019. We highly  appreciate the efforts to implement humanitarian measures discussed  by leaders during their meeting in Vienna in March and developed by  foreign ministers in Moscow in April, in particular, the recently  completed exchange of journalists and the simultaneous release of  prisoners on 28 June nya, "the statement said.

At the same time, the heads of delegation of the three co-chairs  noted that such efforts play an important role in creating an  atmosphere conducive to substantive negotiations for a peaceful  settlement, while the heads of three delegations call for additional  specific humanitarian and security measures.

The heads of delegation of the co-chairing countries urge the parties  to immediately take concrete steps to implement the previously  reached agreements on humanitarian and security measures. "Given the  terrible suffering of the relatives of the victims, we urge the  parties to redouble their efforts to help the International Committee  of the Red Cross exchange data on missing persons, as two leaders  announced at the Paris summit in October 2014. Recognizing the  significant contribution of the Personal Representative The current  chairman in support of the ceasefire, we note the need to resume  discussions on expanding the monitoring mission of the current  co-chair, as the parties agreed in 2016, "emphasized stated in the  statement.

At the same time, the heads of delegations welcome the intention of  the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia to meet again at the  beginning of 2020 under the auspices of the co-chairs in order to  intensify negotiations on key issues of a peaceful settlement and to  facilitate further negotiations at the highest level.  The heads of  delegation of the co-chairing countries reiterate that a fair and  sustainable settlement should be based on the principles of the  Helsinki Final Act, the non-use of force or threat of force,  territorial integrity and equal rights and rights of peoples to  self-determination, recalling the joint statement by the heads of  delegation of the co-chairing countries, as well as the Foreign  Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia at a meeting of the OSCE  Ministerial Council in Athens in 2009, which was subsequently  approved by the OSCE Ministerial Council.

"Also, additional elements proposed by the presidents of the  co-chairing countries in 2009-2012 should be included. The heads of  delegation of the co-chairing countries reiterate that the status quo  is unacceptable and there is no military solution to the conflict.  Therefore, we urge the parties to conduct substantive negotiations in  essence without delays or conditions: Heads of delegations of the  co-chairing countries are convinced that the format of the OSCE Minsk  Group remains an indispensable center for efforts to achieve a  sustainable settlement. We'll cooperate with each other and with the  co-chairs of the Minsk Group, whom we will entrust with continuing  mediation efforts, "concluded the heads of delegations.