Nagorno-Karabakh conflict discussion productive in Minsk
“I hope for further joint work on this issue with all co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group,” Warlick wrote.
OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen James Warlick (USA), Pierre Andrieu (France), Igor Popov (Russia) and Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk are in Minsk to discuss the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with the government of Belarus.
“Belarus is ready to host the conference (negotiations) on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue,” Vladimir Makei, Foreign Minister of Belarus, said at the meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen earlier.
"I would like to confirm our willingness to host the peace talks on Nagorno-Karabakh in the period envisaged by the OSCE relevant decisions,” he wrote. “If necessary, we could also provide a venue for the final stage of the negotiation process on working out a comprehensive peace agreement."
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan.
As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.