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OSCE Secretary General, in Armenia, calls for observance of ceasefire, voices support to reform

July 12,2012 12:11

The OSCE Secretary General, Lamberto Zannier, on an   official visit to Armenia today, stressed the importance of strict observance   of the ceasefire on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan and on the Line   of Contact as a prerequisite for reaching a peaceful solution of the   Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and pledged the OSCE’s continued support to   Armenia in its reforms.

Zannier said the OSCE fully supported the process facilitated by the Minsk   Group Co-Chairs and the efforts of the OSCE Chairperson’s Personal   Representative in negotiating a peaceful settlement of the conflict and   voiced his concern at the developments on the Line of Contact and on the   border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, especially the targeting of civilians   living close to the front lines.

“There is a clear need to immediately implement measures that would   stabilize the worrying situation and prevent the unacceptable further loss of   lives,” he said after his meeting with Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan.
“It is essential for both sides to abstain from retaliatory measures that   would lead to further escalation and to remove snipers from the Line of   Contact – this is the message I also delivered in Baku.”

Zannier stressed that promoting confidence-building measures, including   people-to-people contacts, between the conflict sides, as agreed by the   Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Sochi, was a priority for the OSCE.

The Secretary General said that the 20 years of Armenia’s participation in   the CSCE/OSCE marked this year was “an important milestone” and welcomed   the reform path that the country had embarked on.

“The OSCE stands ready to fully support the country in its profound   regulatory, economic, police, judicial, and democratic reforms, including   through the OSCE Office in Yerevan which has been closely involved in the   reform process,” he said.

Welcoming the peaceful conduct of the parliamentary elections of 6 May,   Zannier also emphasized the importance of addressing in a timely manner the   shortcomings identified by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and
Human Rights’ Election Observation Mission, ahead of next year’s   presidential elections, in order to “help enhance general confidence in the   process”.

During his visit, the Secretary General will also meet President Serzh   Sargsyan and the Speaker of the National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan.

The visit to Yerevan completes the trip of the Secretary General to the South   Caucasus that started in Baku on 8 and 9 July, followed by a visit to Tbilisi   from 9 to 11 July.

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