OSCE co-chairs expected in Armenia on November 23
22.11.2012,
12:48
Co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group Robert Bradtke (USA), Igor Popov (Russia) and Jacques Faure (France) are expected to arrive in Armenia tomorrow, the press secretary of Armenian foreign ministry Tigran Balayan told Novosti-Armenia.
YEREVAN, November 22. /ARKA/. Co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group Robert Bradtke (USA), Igor Popov (Russia) and Jacques Faure (France) are expected to arrive in Armenia tomorrow, the press secretary of Armenian foreign ministry Tigran Balayan told Novosti-Armenia.
The Co-chairs will meet with President Serzh Sargsyan and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan.
The capital of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Stepanakert may be visited as well, if weather conditions are favourable, Balayan said.
Earlier, Azerbaijani mass media reported that the mediators will have a number of meetings in Baku.
The Co-chairs will meet with Azerbaijani FM Elmar Mamediarov and President Ilham Aliev.
The mediators are expected to come up with new ideas on Karabakh peace process.
Bradtke, Popov and Faure are visiting the region ahead of the OSCE council of foreign ministers meeting to be held in Dublin on
December 6-7.
The Karabakh conflict started in 1988 when prevailingly Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh declared withdrawal from Azerbaijan. On December 10, 1991, a referendum was held in Nagorno-Karabakh where 99.89% voted for independence from Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan responded by large-scale military operations that led to loss of control not only over Nagorno-Karabakh itself, but also over seven adjoining areas. About 25-30 thousands people were killed and about a million had to leave their homes during the military operations.
A trilateral cease-fire agreement was signed on May 12, 2004, and has been followed since then. The ongoing Karabakh peace process started in 1992 under auspices of OSCE Minsk Group. -0-
