OSCE Minsk Group is the only mandated body to help resolve Karabakh conflict, ambassador
02.02.2016,
15:34
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will continue to support the Minsk Group as the only internationally mandated format for helping to find a resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, Ambassador Andrei Sorokin, said in an interview with the local semi-weekly "Golos Armeni," newspaper in comments on Turkey's desire to act as a mediator in the negotiations.
YEREVAN, February 2. /ARKA/. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will continue to support the Minsk Group as the only internationally mandated format for helping to find a resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, Ambassador Andrei Sorokin, said in an interview with the local semi-weekly "Golos Armeni," newspaper in comments on Turkey's desire to act as a mediator in the negotiations.
"A lot of offers are being made for the resolution of this conflict – some are smart, others are not, but Germany, the OSCE chairing country, said recently it will support only the format of the Minsk Group," said Sorokin.
According to him, there are no other options and Angela Merkel and German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier confirmed this.
"And I think they will not backpedal on their statements. There may be different insinuations in Turkey regarding the Karabakh conflict, but the fact is that the Minsk Group is trusted by all – by the United States, Russia and France,' said Sorokin.
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. 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. –0
-0-
"A lot of offers are being made for the resolution of this conflict – some are smart, others are not, but Germany, the OSCE chairing country, said recently it will support only the format of the Minsk Group," said Sorokin.
According to him, there are no other options and Angela Merkel and German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier confirmed this.
"And I think they will not backpedal on their statements. There may be different insinuations in Turkey regarding the Karabakh conflict, but the fact is that the Minsk Group is trusted by all – by the United States, Russia and France,' said Sorokin.
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. 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. –0
-0-
