(Updates text to include OSCE Chairperson-in-Office’s phone conversation with the President of Azerbaijan)
BAKU, 30 June 2016 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, met with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov during his visit to Baku today as part of his official trip to the South Caucasus and had a phone conversation with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev. During the talks Steinmeier underlined the OSCE Chairmanship’s resolve to contribute to moving the settlement process forward.
“Germany and Azerbaijan share the view that the current status quo is unsustainable,” Steinmeier said after his meeting with Foreign Minister Mammadyarov. “It must be clear that only negotiations will lead to a lasting and mutually acceptable solution. Therefore we need a clear commitment of the sides to resolve the conflicts by peaceful means. In order to allow for progress in the peace process we need concrete measures to stabilize the ceasefire and to foster mutual trust.”
Acknowledging the positive momentum that has emerged since the latest summit between the Presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation on 20 June 2016, Steinmeier said: “Direct talks is the order of the day.” He called upon his interlocutors in Baku to prove their readiness for compromise, which is a basic prerequisite from the sides for progress.
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The Chairperson-in-Office reconfirmed his full support for the mediation efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and for his Personal Representative, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk.
With respect to the important role of civil society, which needs to be closely engaged on the path towards conflict resolution, Steinmeier met representatives of civil society during his visit in Baku.
In Baku Steinmeier also met with representatives of the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh.
From Baku Steinmeier travels to Georgia, and will conclude his three-day visit to the South Caucasus region, which started on 29 June 2016 in Armenia. In Tbilisi, Steinmeier will amongst other speak at the opening of the 25th Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.