OSCE chief hails meeting of Azerbaijani-Armenian leaders

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara welcomed the meeting between the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsian and the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, that took place today in Vienna.

"I trust that the highest-level dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan will contribute to strengthening confidence and mutual understanding between the parties and will provide a positive incentive for the negotiation process on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement," said Kozhara.

"We believe that such negotiations serve as a warranty for peace, stability and opening new opportunities for regional co-operation. The Ukrainian Chairmanship stands ready to further facilitate the efforts of Azerbaijan and Armenia with the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs on the establishment of the regular dialogue aimed at reaching comprehensive peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the basis of international law," he said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the THE OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.


/Trend/