OSCE MG urges Karabakh conflict sides to reduce tensions

(MENAFN- AzerNews) By Rashid Shirinov

TheOSCE Minsk Group co-chairs havecalled on the sides to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to take additional steps to reduce tensions on the frontline.

They made the remarks in the OSCE Minsk Group'sstatement issued on February 11, after the co-chairs' visit to the region.

The co-chairs - Igor Popov of Russia, Stephane Visconti of Franceand Andrew Schofer of the U.S., together with the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk, met with President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on February 7 and President Serzh Sargsyan in Yerevan on February 9.

In both capitals, they also held consultations with the respective Foreign Ministers. The co-chairs also travelled to Nagorno-Karabakh on February9-11 and visited specific locations in the Zangilan, Gubadli, Agdam, Lachin, and Kalbajar regions.

"The co-chairs underscored the importance of fulfilling, in good faith, all commitments undertaken during the October 2017 Summit in Geneva and at previous summits, in particular, Vienna and St. Petersburg," reads the statement.

The diplomatsalso expressed deep concern over the recent loss of life on the contact line. Theycalled upon the sides to take additional steps to reduce tensions, as agreed in Geneva, and to respect the ceasefire, as well as to refrain from inflammatory statements and provocative actions.

"The co-chairs reiterate their commitment to helping the sides find a peaceful solution to the conflict based on the core principles of the Helsinki Act, including the non-use of force, territorial integrity, and the equal rights and self-determination of peoples," reads the statement.

In conclusion, the co-chairs welcomed the parties' expressed intention to continue intensive negotiations, taking into account the current electoral period.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

The Minsk Group spearheads the OSCE's efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Although the MGdeals with the issue for over two decades, its activities have brought no breakthrough results so far. Until now, Armenia controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions.

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