OSCE Minsk Group Countries Reinstate Commitment to ‘Negotiated Settlement’ of Artsakh Conflict

Heads of Delegation call for the Return of the Territories Surrounding Nagorno-Karabagh to Azerbaijani Control; Interim Status for Nagorno-Karabagh

HAMBURG, Germany (A.W.)—The Heads of Delegation of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (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—released a joint statement on Dec. 8 reinstating their commitment to a “negotiated settlement” of the Nagorno-Karabagh (NKR/Artsakh) conflict.

The Heads of Delegation expressed their concern over the continuing armed incidents in light of what they called 'the dramatic escalation of violence along the Line of Contact in April' and condemned allegations of atrocities committed on the battlefield.
The Heads of Delegation expressed their concern over the continuing armed incidents in light of what they called ‘the dramatic escalation of violence along the Line of Contact in April’ and condemned allegations of atrocities committed on the battlefield.

The Heads of Delegation expressed their concern over the continuing armed incidents in light of what they called “the dramatic escalation of violence along the Line of Contact in April” and condemned allegations of atrocities committed on the battlefield. “[W]e express concern over continuing armed incidents, including reports on the use of heavy weapons, and strongly condemn the use of force or the threat of the use of force.  There is no military solution to this conflict and no justification for the death and injury of civilians.  We are also aware of allegations of atrocities committed on the field of battle in April, which we condemn in the strongest terms.  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,” read a part of the statement.

The Heads of Delegation also called on both Baku and Yerevan to honor the agreements reflected in the Joint Statements of the May 16 Summit in Vienna and the June 20 Summit in St. Petersburg and that a settlement must be based on the core principles of the Helsinki Final Act.

“We remind the sides that the settlement must be based on the core principles of the Helsinki Final Act, namely: non-use of force, territorial integrity, and the equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and additional elements as proposed by the Presidents of the Co-Chair countries, including return of the territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabagh to Azerbaijani control; an interim status for Nagorno-Karabagh providing guarantees for security and self-governance; a corridor linking Armenia to Nagorno-Karabagh; future determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabagh through a legally binding expression of will; the right of all internally displaced persons and refugees to return to their former places of residence; and international security guarantees that would include a peacekeeping operation.  Our countries will continue to work closely with the sides, and we call upon them to make full use of the assistance of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs as mediators,” read a part of the statement.

The statement can be read in its entirety below.

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We, 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—remain fully committed to a negotiated settlement of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict.

In light of the dramatic escalation in violence along the Line of Contact in April, we express concern over continuing armed incidents, including reports on the use of heavy weapons, and strongly condemn the use of force or the threat of the use of force.  There is no military solution to this conflict and no justification for the death and injury of civilians.  We are also aware of allegations of atrocities committed on the field of battle in April, which we condemn in the strongest terms.  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.  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.

We call on Baku and Yerevan to honor the agreements reflected in the Joint Statements of the 16 May Summit in Vienna and the 20 June Summit in St. Petersburg.  We welcome the sides’ progress in implementing the exchange of data on missing persons under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross.  We urge the parties to remove all remaining obstacles to expanding the mission of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and to make progress on a proposal to establish an OSCE investigative mechanism.  The proposals should be implemented together with the immediate resumption of negotiations on a settlement.  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.  Unless progress can be made on negotiations, the prospects for renewed violence will only increase, and the parties will bear full responsibility.

We remind the sides that the settlement must be based on the core principles of the Helsinki Final Act, namely: non-use of force, territorial integrity, and the equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and additional elements as proposed by the Presidents of the Co-Chair countries, including return of the territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabagh to Azerbaijani control; an interim status for Nagorno-Karabagh providing guarantees for security and self-governance; a corridor linking Armenia to Nagorno-Karabagh; future determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabagh through a legally binding expression of will; the right of all internally displaced persons and refugees to return to their former places of residence; and international security guarantees that would include a peacekeeping operation.  Our countries will continue to work closely with the sides, and we call upon them to make full use of the assistance of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs as mediators.

The Co-Chair countries are prepared to host a meeting of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan when they are ready. We firmly believe that the Presidents need to engage in negotiations in good faith at the earliest opportunity.  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.

6 Comments

  1. I tell you what, OSCE:
    Get Azerbaijan to return all the Khachkars it destroyed in Nakhichevan, apologize and pay compensation to the families of all the Armenian servicemen and civilians it has killed, apologize for its many atrocities over the decades, and reveal to all the numerous acts of repression it has inflicted on Artsakh for the last 100 or so years, and then we’ll see about Artsakh’s leasing a few square meters of land to Azerbaijan.
    One more thing, OSCE: Start blaming the party that has been violating the ceasefire – Azerbaijan – and stop losing credibility with your absurd “evenhandedness.”

  2. Toothless statements and vague references to “atrocities committed in April war” without naming the culprit. In any case, good food for Azeri propaganda. Where is the Armenian diplomacy to counter Aliev’s recurrent calls on his people to “reclaim the whole of Armenia as historically Azerbaijani land”? After all, this is a declared intention for aggression and should be taken into consideration when making such biased statements.

  3. how can there be any peace when you peg Christians against moslems.
    the later do not understand what “negotiated peace” means. they only understand gun diplomacy.
    so let’s give it to them.

  4. ” Including return of the territories surrounding Nagorno-Krabagh to Azebaijani control”.
    This statement and position is totally unacceptable.
    It is in direct conflict with ” future determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Krabagh through a legally binding expression of will”.
    The statement is pure diplomatic jargon, one sided, dishonest and does not provide any solutions to the conflict. On the contrary, it makes it worse .
    Neither Artsakh nor Armenia should yield to this pressure and they need the full support of all Armenians.
    Vart Adjemian

  5. Why is it that the territory, occupied by 95% Armenians, was given to Azerbaijon by the Russian dictator Stalin in 1924 while under his control. It isn’t bad enough that the Armenians lost most of their territory to the Turkish Mongols, Now the Minsk Group want to shrink their territory even more.

    Why is it that that territory was occupied by 95% Armenians before Dictator Stalin gave to Azerbeijon in 1924

  6. Azerbaijan has no intention of being a peaceful neighbor. The Minsk group has no intention of calling Azerbaijan out for its GROSS VIOLATIONS. Trust neither. Ignore both. Start dictating the terms. Instead of the usual nonsense lands returned for future referendum? There has already been a referendum. And after 25 years of being free give back lands to who? Muslim Turks? These lands were liberated. They also never mention the hundreds of thousands of Armenians who lost everything from Azerbaijan with nothing? So there’s is nothing to give back. I say keep it all and above all arm the Armenian army further. Its the ONLY REASON we are still negotiating. Its the only thing Turks understand.

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