VIENNA (Combined Sources)—During a special meeting of the Permanent Council of the Organization for Security Cooperation in Europe Tuesday, the recent military aggression against the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic was discussed, as the Minsk Group tasked with the resolving the conflict issued a statement “condemning” the latest escalation.
The permanent council meeting was presided over by the US OSCE Minsk Group co-chairman James Warlick and the Personal Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, who briefed the 57 OSCE participating States about recent developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Warlick and Kasprzyk welcomed news about the cessation of hostilities and urged the sides to respect the ceasefire. They stressed that it is important to return to the political process on the basis of a sustainable ceasefire. OSCE participating States agreed that the latest escalation is deeply worrysome and that it is necessary for the OSCE to continue playing a central role in facilitating a peaceful settlement. All participating States should support the activities of the Minsk Group and those of its Co-Chairs.
The Co-Chairs announced that they will travel to the region shortly, together with Ambassador Kasprzyk. Ambassador Kasprzyk will also travel to the areas affected by the military escalation as soon as the situation permits.
In Berlin, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said: “Reports on the cessation of hostilities are encouraging. Our immediate efforts must now focus on stabilizing the ceasefire and preventing any new escalation. Hostilities must stop in an effective and lasting way. In this regard, I welcome the early visit of the Co-Chairs to the region. I remain in close contact with the sides and other international actors.”
Separately, the OSCE Minsk Group issued the following statement:
We, the representatives of the OSCE Minsk Group countries (Russian Federation, the United States of America, France, Belarus, Finland, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Turkey), as well as the incoming Austrian OSCE Chair (2017) and the Serbian OSCE Chair (2015), strongly condemn the outbreak of unprecedented violence along the Line of Contact. We extend our condolences to all affected families. We urge the sides to cease using force immediately. There is no military solution to the conflict.
The deterioration of the situation on the ground demonstrates the need for an immediate negotiation, under the auspices of the Co-chairs, on a comprehensive settlement.
The representatives of the Minsk Group member states affirm their support for the Russian, American, and French Co-Chairs’ mediation efforts and welcome their plans to undertake direct consultations with the sides as soon as possible.
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The Armenian government should include the issue of Nakhichevan in any future negotiations. If any lands are to be returned, azeris should first return Nakhichevan, a historic part of ancient Armenia. It is clear that Turkey is the main instigator of the recent escalation. In this context, sale of Russian made weapons and especially their use against peaceful Armenian territories is very puzzling and is against the Russian national security interests. While Turkey is unconditionally supporting Azerbaijan, Russia’s arms sales and so called “neutral” position is very troubling. After all, turks and azeris are the same terrorist back stabbers. While Armenians are grateful to Russia for supporting Armenia, Russia has the ability to end this conflict for good by recognizing Artsakh. And by doing so, Russia can correct the main cause of this conflict which was Stalin’s unjust action of trying to make Artsakh, a historic Armenian territory, part of Azerbaijan.
It has passed the discussion period…action and urgent action is required!!!!!!!! You can not fool us with your so called discussions while young Armenian men are dying because of Azeri blatant aggressions!!!!!!!keep those discussions in your bedrooms or with your mistresses. We want Action! !!!!!!!!
Urge only one side to cease hostilities! The side that always causes trouble you know….go on say it….Azerbaijan should stop the hostilities!stop talking in plural forms!stop the duplicity and this double talk. You may be stupid, we are NOT!!!!!!
This group first needs to condemn themselves for not being able to say that Azerbaijan started the latest attack and is the result of doing this same thing for years. They are simply encouraging the attacker, which could very well be their goal to start with. Instead of doing their usual useless tour to the conflict region after every attack, they should just go to some resort site and enjoy themselves instead of wasting everyone’s time. And if it happens to be that they are really inept and incompetent to know who is starting the fighting every time, then they should crawl back in a hole in their respective countries and just shut up.