The Co-Chairs continue to believe that the proposals developed through the past two years of negotiations hold the best potential for achieving a just and lasting settlement of the conflict, Trend reports with reference to the July 3 statement of the co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group on regulation of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Co-chairs confirmed that it is time for Azerbaijani and Armenians Presidents to make initiative for reaching a comprehensive agreement in the process of regulation, and the co-chairs are ready to make contribution to the sides to conclude the agreement if the Presidents indicate they are prepared to do so. Although no additional meetings between the sides under the auspices of the co-chairs are planned for the immediate future, they will be ready to reengage if the parties decide to pursue the talks with the political will that has thus far been lacking.
It was stated in the statement that the proposals presented to the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents may lead to a long-term settlement of the conflict. The principles are based on the redeployment of Armenian troops from Azerbaijani territories around Nagorno-Karabakh, with special modalities for Kelbajar and Lachin districts (including a corridor between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh), demilitarization of those territories, and a referendum or population vote -- at a date and in a manner to be decided through further negotiations -- to determine the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh. Then, deployment of an international peacekeeping force and a joint commission for implementation of the agreement would be established, and international assistance would be made available for demining, reconstruction, and resettlement of internally displaced persons in the formerly occupied territories and the war-affected regions of Nagorno-Karabakh.