Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 17 / Trend , E.Ostapenko /
The Greek OSCE chairman considers resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict a priority.
Greece fully supports the Minsk Group's efforts to resolve the conflict, Greek Prime Minister and OSCE Chairman Kostas Karamanlis said in an interview with Trend on Feb. 17.
"The organization's framework is indispensable," he said.
Greece supports the Minstk Group's efforts to resolve the conflict on the basis of the Madrid Document.
The Minsk Group's proposals were formally submitted to the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers at the Madrid OSCE summit in November 2007 and serve as the basis for negotiations.
"A priority of the Greek chairmanship is to promote the peaceful resolution of conflicts," Karamanlis said.
Greece received the OSCE chairmanship from Finland on Jan. 1.
Greece is committed to working as a broker with all sides in the spirit of openness, the Greek PM said.
"The Greek chairmanship will work to ensure that regional peoples enjoy the fruits of a negotiated, peaceful settlement this year," Karamanlis said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
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