Azerbaijan, Baku, 10 April / corr Trend K.Ramazanova / The OSCE needs to focus on the issues where it can make a real difference, including solving the region's frozen conflicts, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, newly appointed Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, told the Organization's Permanent Council on 10 April.
"We must seriously look for possible solutions to the so-called frozen conflicts. My aim is to re-energize efforts towards the peaceful settlement of these conflicts," said the Chairman-in-Office," he stated.
"I sincerely hope that the efforts of the Finnish Chairmanship are met with constructive engagement by all the parties."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 surrounding 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.
He supported the existing negotiation mechanisms, "I continue to support the existing negotiation mechanisms, including the OSCE Minsk Group established to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict".
Stubb also expressed concern over recent incidents in Nagorno-Karabakh and South Ossetia and appealed to all the related parties to refrain from violence.
At the beginning of March, the ceasefire regime was violated in the frontline between Azerbaijan and Armenia, resulting in death and injuries.
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