YEREVAN—The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Igor Popov of Russia, Jacques Faure of France, and James Warlick of the United States, along with the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, travelled to Armenia, Artsakh, and Azerbaijan from Dec. 15 to 19 to discuss recent developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.
The Co-Chairs met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Dec. 15 in Baku, and with Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian on Dec. 16 in Yerevan. They travelled to Nagorno-Karabakh on Dec. 17 to meet with the authorities in Stepanakert.
The Presidents and the Co-Chairs discussed the outcome of the Nov. 19 summit meeting in Vienna, and the subsequent meeting of their Foreign Ministers in Kyiv on Dec. 4 and 5. They expressed their resolve to continue building on these substantive talks in January 2014.
In light the shooting death of an Armenian soldier by the Azeri side during the Co-Chairs’ stay in Baku, the Co-Chairs noted that recent violence on the border undermines prospects for peace. They encouraged the sides to refrain from further actions that could increase tensions, and to work to maintain an atmosphere conducive to progress at the negotiating table.
The Co-Chairs will travel to Switzerland for consultations with the incoming Chairperson in Office of the OSCE in January, followed by a meeting of the two Foreign Ministers to prepare for the next summit.
“They encouraged the sides to refrain from further actions that could increase tensions”
its Azerbaijan shooting Armenians! the Armenian govt should jump on these people, publicly and in the media. enough of the 2 sided comments. you know Azerbaijan is responsible, start condemning azerbaijans actions!
These OSCE Minsk Group Ambassadors are interested only the safe passage of Axeri oil, where Russians and Western companies have a big share with Sultan Aliev oil fields!! They know if Sultan’s anger get out of control his life lines will blown up instantly!!