Armenia and Artsakh reiterate their commitment to peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict
12.03.2019,
16:24
Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Artsakh Republic (Nagorno-Karabakh) President Bako Sahakyan chaired today a joint meeting of the Security Councils of Armenia and Artsakh in Stepanakert,
YEREVAN, March 12, /ARKA/. Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Artsakh Republic (Nagorno-Karabakh) President Bako Sahakyan chaired today a joint meeting of the Security Councils of Armenia and Artsakh in Stepanakert,
The main topic of the agenda was the joint assessment of the current situation of the NK conflict peaceful settlement and outlining of coordinated actions, Sahakyan’s press office reported.
The Security Councils of Armenia and Artsakh were said to have stated that high-level capabilities of ensuring effective defense are guaranteed. At the same time, both Armenian sides reaffirmed their assistance and commitment to exclusively peaceful settlement of the conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship, based on the fundamental principles of international law, including the right of peoples to self-determination.
Pashinyan, in particular, was quoted as saying by the press service of Artsakh President that Armenia remains committed to the negotiation process and as the guarantor of the security of Artsakh will continue to make efforts in this direction.
"At the same time, to ensure effectiveness of the peace process, the decisive voice of Artsakh and its participation in the talks remain relevant," said Pashinyan.
In turn, Bako Sahakyan stressed that the basis of the atmosphere conducive to peace lies in the unquestioning implementation of the tripartite ceasefire agreement of 1994-1995, which would be a significant incentive for advancing the peace process.
"Artsakh is ready to continue making its constructive contribution to the negotiation process aimed at establishing a durable and lasting peace in the region," said Sahakyan.
The meeting was said to emphasize that ensuring the security and status of Artsakh were and remain the highest values for the Armenian parties. The importance of creating an atmosphere of peace, introduction of mechanisms to reduce risks, prevention of incidents and strengthening of mutual trust was mentioned.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict erupted into armed clashes after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s as the predominantly Armenian-populated enclave of Azerbaijan sought to secede from Azerbaijan and declared its independence backed by a successful referendum.
On May 12, 1994, the Bishkek cease-fire agreement put an end to the military operations. A truce was brokered by Russia in 1994, although no permanent peace agreement has been signed. Since then, Nagorno-Karabakh and several adjacent regions have been under the control of Armenian forces of Karabakh. Nagorno-Karabakh is the longest-running post-Soviet era conflict and has continued to simmer despite the relative peace of the past two decades, with snipers causing tens of deaths a year.
On April 2, 2016, Azerbaijan launched military assaults along the entire perimeter of its contact line with Nagorno-Karabakh. Four days later a cease-fire was reached. -0---
The main topic of the agenda was the joint assessment of the current situation of the NK conflict peaceful settlement and outlining of coordinated actions, Sahakyan’s press office reported.
The Security Councils of Armenia and Artsakh were said to have stated that high-level capabilities of ensuring effective defense are guaranteed. At the same time, both Armenian sides reaffirmed their assistance and commitment to exclusively peaceful settlement of the conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship, based on the fundamental principles of international law, including the right of peoples to self-determination.
Pashinyan, in particular, was quoted as saying by the press service of Artsakh President that Armenia remains committed to the negotiation process and as the guarantor of the security of Artsakh will continue to make efforts in this direction.
"At the same time, to ensure effectiveness of the peace process, the decisive voice of Artsakh and its participation in the talks remain relevant," said Pashinyan.
In turn, Bako Sahakyan stressed that the basis of the atmosphere conducive to peace lies in the unquestioning implementation of the tripartite ceasefire agreement of 1994-1995, which would be a significant incentive for advancing the peace process.
"Artsakh is ready to continue making its constructive contribution to the negotiation process aimed at establishing a durable and lasting peace in the region," said Sahakyan.
The meeting was said to emphasize that ensuring the security and status of Artsakh were and remain the highest values for the Armenian parties. The importance of creating an atmosphere of peace, introduction of mechanisms to reduce risks, prevention of incidents and strengthening of mutual trust was mentioned.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict erupted into armed clashes after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s as the predominantly Armenian-populated enclave of Azerbaijan sought to secede from Azerbaijan and declared its independence backed by a successful referendum.
On May 12, 1994, the Bishkek cease-fire agreement put an end to the military operations. A truce was brokered by Russia in 1994, although no permanent peace agreement has been signed. Since then, Nagorno-Karabakh and several adjacent regions have been under the control of Armenian forces of Karabakh. Nagorno-Karabakh is the longest-running post-Soviet era conflict and has continued to simmer despite the relative peace of the past two decades, with snipers causing tens of deaths a year.
On April 2, 2016, Azerbaijan launched military assaults along the entire perimeter of its contact line with Nagorno-Karabakh. Four days later a cease-fire was reached. -0---
