Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend A.Gasimova / Miguel Angel Moratinos, the OSCE chairman in office, as well as the Spanish Foreign Minister, met in Madrid with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs involved in the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh and discussed means of resolving the conflict.
Daniel Soto, a spokesman for the Spanish Foreign Minister, said in a telephone discussion that the meeting was held at the Spanish Foreign Ministry. Attending the meeting were Foreign Minister Moratinos, OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs- French Ambassador Bernard Fassie, the US Ambassador Matthew Bryza and the Russian Ambassador.
The talks focused on ways to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as ongoing peaceful negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The OSCE chairman-in-office stated it will offer every assistance to resolve the conflict. Finding a solution to the conflict will be the focus of discussions during the Spanish Minister's forthcoming visit to Azerbaijan and Armenia due on 4-5 June. He will also participate in the meeting with the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers in Strasbourg.
The conflict between the two countries of South Caucasus began in 1988 due to territorial claims by Armenia against Azerbaijan. Armenia has occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani land including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding Districts. Since 1992, these territories have been under the occupation of the Armenian Forces. 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 USA) are holding peaceful negotiations.
The Minsk Group Co-Chairs' are responsible for ensuring peace and stability in the region. They frequently visit the region, meeting with the disputing parties to achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict, as well as take the necessary measures to restore and reinforce trust between the conflicting 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 has been achieved.