Polish diplomat: The main mission of the OSCE now is to restore  cooperation within the framework of the Minsk Group

ArmInfo.Poland has always emphasized the importance of the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship. Ambassador of  Poland to Armenia Pawel Cieplak said  on April 5 at a press conference in Yerevan. It should be reminded  that Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office is  Andrzej Kasprzyk from Poland.

Asked to give details of the meetings of t OSCE Chairman-in-Office  Zbigniew Rau in Baku  and in Yerevan, Cieplak noted that he could not  tell more than was announced by the relevant bodies, since the  meetings were closed. In this vein, he stated that he participated in  Rau's negotiations with RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.   "Pashinyan's main goal was to hear our proposals, and he received  clear answers. To be honest, I have not yet studied the press release  of the press secretary of the Prime Minister of the Republic of  Armenia, and it would be wrong to get ahead of events. But, I would  like to say that there was a very open and sincere meeting between  Rau' and Pashinyan. We positively appreciate this meeting," the  Polish diplomat said.  

At the same time, Cieplak stressed that the main mission of the OSCE  now is to restore cooperation within the framework of the Minsk  Group. According to him, Poland fulfilled this task within its  capabilities. "In February, before the war (in Ukraine - ed. note),  the head of Poland met with three co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group -  from Russia, the United States and France. And we can say that Poland  did everything possible within its capabilities, but the war in  Ukraine changed the situation," the Polish diplomat said.  

Taking into account what the Ambassador said above, in response to  the journalist's clarification whether it can be argued that there is  no more cooperation between Russia, France and the United States in  the OSCE, especially after the war in Ukraine, Cieplak, in  particular, said: "I fully understand your question, however, it is  outside of my competencies. I think that you should send your  question to the OSCE press secretary in Vienna." When asked whether  there would be a joint statement by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs on  the situation in Kagorno-Karabakh, diplomat also noted that he had no  information and could not say.  Concerning the issue of prisoners of  war and civilians held in Azerbaijan, he said that Poland is in favor  of the speedy return of prisoners of war to their homeland, however,  the key to resolving this sensitive issue lies in Baku.  

It should be noted that Polish Foreign Minister, OSCE  Chairman-in-Office Zbigniew Rau traveled to the South Caucasus on  March 29-April 1. He held meetings with the top leadership of  Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. Among the key issues on the agenda  are current events on the regional and international agenda,  including the latest processes around Nagorno-Karabakh.