Azerbaijani, Armenian FMs likely to meet with French, Russian and U.S colleagues at OSCE summit in Almaty

It is not ruled out that a joint meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers with French, Russian and U.S colleagues - Bernard Kouchner, Sergei Lavrov and Hillary Clinton will be held during the informal summit of foreign ministers of countries - OSCE members in Almaty, the OSCE's press office said.

France, Russia and the U.S. are countries co-chairing in the OSCE Minsk Group. It is the main mechanism for the peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The negotiations within the Minsk Group have been held since 1994. The parties reached a ceasefire regime that period.

OSCE Summit will be held in Almaty, Kazakhstan on July 16-17. A meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers Elmar Mammadyarov and Edward Nalbandian with foreign ministers of France, Russia and the U.S. is scheduled for July 17. The parties are likely to make joint statement following the talks.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.

The informal meeting in Almaty will be devoted to strengthening of the OSCE potential and the preparation for the first summit within many years.


/Trend/