Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct 24 / Trend /
OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier concerned the lack of progress of settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"When it comes to Nagorno-Karabakh everyone is concerned about the absence of progress, and the deterioration of the situation on the ground, with 28 people killed only this year. I personally share this concern. We continue to support the efforts of the Minsk Group and its Co-Chairs - Russia, France and the US", said Zannier in an interview to Interfax news agency on Tuesday.
According to him, no international efforts can be effective if there is no political will on both sides to negotiate a peaceful solution.
"This is what I stressed during my recent meetings with the respective foreign ministers in New York. Returning to the substance of the negotiations and looking ahead are the only ways to prevent escalation and bring the long-awaited security to the region" Zannier added.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent 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 U.S. - are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.