...

OSCE Chairman-in-Office to Confidentially Discuss Karabakh Issue with Minsk Group Co-Chairmen

Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict Materials 8 May 2007 19:03 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend , corr. E. Husseynov; A. Ismayilova/ Muguel Angel Moratinos, the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE Minsk Group, is expected to meet all three Minsk Group Co-Chairmen for a resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in Madrid on May 10, a representative of the press service of the Spanish Foreign Ministry has said by telephone. However, referring to the full confidentiality of the forthcoming meeting, he refused to inform of the details of the topics to be discussed during the meeting.

Yuriy Merzlyakov, the Russian Chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, previously said that the forthcoming meeting to be held in Madrid at the initiative of the OSCE Minsk Group Chairman-in-Office, Miguel Angel Moratinos, would be dedicated to peaceful negotiations on the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

The conflict between the two South Caucasian countries goes as far back as 1988 due to Armenia's territorial claims to Azerbaijan. Since 1992 and to date, 20% of the territory of Azerbaijan, including Nagorno-Karabakh and 7 Districts adjacent to it, have been under the occupation of Armenian Forces. In May 1994, the disputing parties reached a cease-fire that put an end to battles for Karabakh. Since then, when the cease-fire was announced, the OSCE Minsk Group under the chairmanship of Russia, France and USA have led fruitless peaceful negotiations to resolve this issue.

The Minsk Group Co-Chairs' are responsible for making efforts on guaranteeing peace and stability in the region. They frequently visit the region, meeting with the disputing parties to achieve a peaceful resolution of the conflict, as well as take required measures to restore and reinforce trust between the conflict parties. They periodically prepare reports and give an account to the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Miguel Angel Moratinos, and Spain's Foreign Minister, who took up post this year, on what they have done. Between 4 and 5 June, Mr Moratinos is expected to pay a visit to Azerbaijan and Armenia to discuss ways of resolution of the conflict between the two countries.

The Minsk Group Co-Chairs' are responsible for making efforts on guaranteeing peace and stability in the region. They frequently visit the region, meeting with the disputing parties to achieve a peaceful resolution of the conflict, as well as take required measures to restore and reinforce trust between the conflict parties. They periodically prepare reports and give an account to the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Miguel Angel Moratinos, and Spain's Foreign Minister, who took up post this year, on what they have done. Between 4 and 5 June, Mr Moratinos is expected to pay a visit to Azerbaijan and Armenia to discuss ways of resolution of the conflict between the two countries.

Latest

Latest