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OSCE urges negotiated settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Xinhua, December 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on Thursday called on leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to meet at the earliest opportunity to negotiate a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The OSCE, the world's largest regional organization on security-related issues, delivered the message through a joint statement by the heads of delegation of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries -- Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, Secretary of State of the United States John Kerry, and Foreign Minister of France Jean-Marc Ayrault.

The troika countries said in the statement that they "remain fully committed to a negotiated settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," noting that there is no military solution to the conflict.

"We appeal to the sides to confirm their commitment to the peaceful resolution of the conflict as the only way to bring real reconciliation to the peoples of the region," the statement said.

"We also urge them to adhere strictly to the 1994/95 ceasefire agreements that make up the foundation of the cessation of hostilities in the conflict zone," it added.

"We would like to reiterate our call to the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to demonstrate flexibility and to return to the negotiation table with the firm aim of moving toward a sustainable peace on the basis of the current working proposals," the statement said.

According to the statement, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries are prepared to host a meeting of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan when they are ready.

"Continuous and direct dialogue between the Presidents, conducted under the auspices of the Co-Chairs, remains an essential element in building confidence and moving the peace process forward," the troika ministers stressed in their joint statement.

The statement was issued during the ongoing 23rd Ministerial Council of the OSCE which opened here Thursday in Hamburg and will conclude on Friday.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have been locked in a bitter dispute over the mountainous region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh first broke out in 1988, when the region claimed independence from Azerbaijan to join Armenia.

Peace talks have been held since 1994 when a ceasefire was reached, but there have been occasional minor clashes in the past along the borders and across the volatile frontline of the Karabakh area. Endit