The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Ambassadors Robert
Bradtke of the United States, Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, and
Jacques Faure of France) and Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk (Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office) traveled May 11-14 to
Yerevan and Baku, where they met with Presidents Sargsian and Aliyev to
discuss the most recent efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The Co-Chairs continued their discussions with the sides on how to implement
the commitments made by Presidents Aliyev and Sargsian in their January 23
joint statement in Sochi, including to “accelerate” reaching agreement on the
Basic Principles as a framework for a comprehensive peace settlement, to work
on the mechanism to investigate ceasefire violations, and to develop
humanitarian contacts. The Co-Chairs expressed their concern over recent
incidents along the frontlines, and urged the sides to exercise restraint and
refrain from retaliation. The Co-Chairs welcomed the sides’ reaffirmation
of their commitment to seek a peaceful settlement.
The Co-Chairs also discussed with the sides the development of
confidence-building measures in the military and people-to-people spheres to
enhance trust and strengthen implementation of the 1994 ceasefire. In
addition, the Co-Chairs discussed the importance of assessing and preserving
at-risk sites of Armenian and Azeri cultural and historical value, in order
to protect the shared heritage of the region’s peoples while negotiations
continue toward a final and lasting peace.
The Co-Chairs plan to continue discussions with the Foreign Ministers of the
two countries in the near future.
