Editor's Note: Details added
Kazakhstan, Astana, Dec. 1 / Trend A.Maratov /
The United States supports the resumption of efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said at the OSCE Astana summit today.
She noted that the resolution of the conflict must be based on the Helsinki Principles.
"History will judge us not by what we say today at the summit, but rather by what we do, and our adherence to the Helsinki Principles," Clinton said.
The Helsinki process launched in 1975 as the final act of the OSCE's predecessor -- the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. The Helsinki process intends to ensure peace, security and stability in Europe.
Clinton stressed that the summit is held in easter Istanbul, which hosted the last OSCE summit in 1999.
"The summit is not just the first after an 11-year hiatus, but also the first in easter Istanbul," she said. "We must use this opportunity to reestablish communications and transfer the principles of the Helsinki pact, the basic principles of which are respect for territorial integrity and mutual respect."
Security in the OSCE is one of the main topics on the summit agenda. The summit is also an outstanding event in Kazakhstan's political life since gaining independence.
The summit is held in Astana on Dec. 1-2 and will bring together presidents and prime ministers from 56 OSCE member countries and 12 OSCE partner countries, as well as the heads of 68 international organizations.
As the OSCE is an advisory body, the only way to discuss pressing issues are to meet at such summits. Over the years, global security and threats have significantly changed, and the summit will enable the OSCE to discuss the current situation.
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 seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the United States- are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding regions.
The OSCE should respond more effectively to challenges, Clinton said noting the desire to achieve adoption of an efficient instrument at the summit based on the Helsinki pact.
"It is necessary to improve the ability to respond to conflicts and strengthen the organization's role in conflict prevention, in which no other organization can be compared with the OSCE," Clinton said.
She noted the need to renew the OSCE's efforts in settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which will be based on principles developed under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group.
Speaking about the security situation in other OSCE member-states, Clinton expressed gratitude to Kazakhstan for prompt response to the situation in Kyrgyzstan.
Clinton said that it is encouraging that Russia recognizes the need to improve existing opportunities. "I hope we be able to find a format that will impartially assess the developments in Georgia and Kyrgyzstan."