Azerbaijan, Baku, 3 April / corr Trend K.Ramazanova / The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs called on the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia to meet as soon as possible.
"Heads of the two countries and OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs decided to continue talks on the basis of 'major principles', clarify the proposal under discussions and take additional steps to support peaceful talks," according to the statements issued by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, which held meetings with the heads of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Bucharest.
The co-chairs retariated their support for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and imporance of political compromises on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, which should be defined by the population of this region.
The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since 1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven neighbouring districts. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful negotiations.