Lavrov: December 7 statement affirms principles for Karabakh conflict settlement
The joint statement made by the Heads of Delegation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Countries on December 7 affirms the principles on the basis of which the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be settled, Russian Foreign Ministry told a press conference held on the sidelines of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Vienna on Friday, APA reported.
According to the statement, the primary responsibility to end the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict rests with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
"On the occasion of the OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting in Vienna, we the Heads of Delegation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and French Permanent Representative Véronique Roger-Lacan, remain united in our commitment to mediating a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the basis of the core principles of the Helsinki Final Act, including the non-use of force or threat of force, territorial integrity, and the equal rights and self-determination of peoples," reads the statement.
They also reiterated joint commitment to negotiating a peaceful resolution to this conflict "as the only way to bring real reconciliation to the peoples of the region".
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict entered its modern phase when the Armenian SRR made territorial claims against the Azerbaijani SSR in 1988.
A fierce war broke out between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. As a result of the war, Armenian armed forces occupied some 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory which includes Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent districts (Lachin, Kalbajar, Aghdam, Fuzuli, Jabrayil, Gubadli and Zangilan), and over a million Azerbaijanis became refugees and internally displaced people.
The military operations finally came to an end when Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in Bishkek in 1994.
Dealing with the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the OSCE Minsk Group, which was created after the meeting of the CSCE (OSCE after the Budapest summit held in December 1994) Ministerial Council in Helsinki on 24 March 1992. The Group’s members include Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, the United States, France, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Belarus, Finland and Sweden.
Besides, the OSCE Minsk Group has a co-chairmanship institution, comprised of Russian, the US and French co-chairs, which began operating in 1996.
Resolutions 822, 853, 874 and 884 of the UN Security Council, which were passed in short intervals in 1993, and other resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly, PACE, OSCE, OIC, and other organizations require Armenia to unconditionally withdraw its troops from Nagorno-Karabakh.
Related news releases
22.04.2018
Armenia violates ceasefire 97 times20.04.2018
Armenia again breaks ceasefire with Azerbaijan20.04.2018
Karabakh conflict should be resolved through negotiations, compromises19.04.2018
Armenia continues breaking ceasefire with Azerbaijan18.04.2018
Ilham Aliyev: Jojug Marjanli has become symbol of our revival18.04.2018
Ilham Aliyev: Let world know that not only Karabakh but also present-day Armenia is historical Azerbaijani land18.04.2018
Armenia again breaks ceasefire with Azerbaijan17.04.2018
Prosecutor General Zakir Garalov appeals to Russian counterpart over anti-Azerbaijani provocation in Izvestia newspaper16.04.2018
Russian newspaper Izvestiya commits provocation against Azerbaijan13.04.2018
Armenia again breaks ceasefire with Azerbaijan10.04.2018
Yemeni blogger apologizes for illegal trip to Karabakh, escapes Azerbaijan's "black list"09.04.2018
Ilham Aliyev: Legal framework created for settlement of Karabakh conflict09.04.2018
Ariel Cohen: Sides will eventually understand importance of settling Karabakh conflict on basis of UNSC decisions08.04.2018
Armenia violates ceasefire 86 times06.04.2018
Italy’s OSCE Chairmanship says not keen on creating new formats for Karabakh talks06.04.2018
OSCE hopes meeting between Azerbaijani, Armenian presidents could soon take place06.04.2018
Syria’s UN envoy comments on reports on deployment of terrorists from Syria in occupied Azerbaijani lands06.04.2018
Another ceasefire violation from Armenia05.04.2018
President Ilham Aliyev: "The main reason for the unsettledness of the Karabakh problem is that Armenia does not want to change the status quo"05.04.2018
Nothing being done to implement decisions on Karabakh problem – Turkish FM05.04.2018
Status quo in Karabakh conflict will never be accepted – FM Mammadyarov05.04.2018
Armenia again breaks ceasefire with Azerbaijan04.04.2018
Minsk Group format shows co-op possible for sake of European security: OSCE Sec-Gen04.04.2018
Azerbaijan to present note of protest to France04.04.2018
Former Nagorno-Karabakh commandant: ‘All illegal armed groups were disarmed during my time’04.04.2018
Washington Times publishes article by Azerbaijani ambassador on 25th anniversary of occupation of Kalbajar04.04.2018
Armenia continues breaking ceasefire with Azerbaijan03.04.2018
Russia to grant Armenia interest-free loan for purchase of Iskander missile systems – report03.04.2018
Armenia again violates ceasefire with Azerbaijan02.04.2018
Indian gov’t has nothing to do with exhibition organized in Khankendi – embassy02.04.2018
Azerbaijani MFA spokesman issues statement on occupation of Kalbajar region and April escalation of 201602.04.2018
Armenia violates ceasefire with Azerbaijan over 3,100 times in March02.04.2018
Armenia continues breaking ceasefire with Azerbaijan01.04.2018
Armenia violates ceasefire 105 times30.03.2018
Ogtay Asadov: Illusion of “greater Armenia” has always brought disasters on South Caucasus29.03.2018
Russian FM and OSCE Secretary General to discuss Karabakh conflict29.03.2018
3 HALO Trust employees killed, 2 injured in landmine explosion in Nagorno-Karabakh29.03.2018
Armenia again breaks ceasefire with Azerbaijan28.03.2018
Armenia continues breaking ceasefire with Azerbaijan27.03.2018
Baku says Armenian FM has special phobia against substantive negotiations08.12.2017
Direct dialogue over Karabakh settlement doesn’t produce any visible progress, says Russian FM08.12.2017
Lavrov: Work underway to increase number of OSCE observers for Karabakh conflict08.12.2017
Armenian army opens fire at village in Azerbaijan’s Aghdam07.12.2017
Elmar Mammadyarov: “Certain forces in the region are not interested in changing status-quo”07.12.2017
Co-chair countries issue joint statement on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict - UPDATED07.12.2017
Baku supports dialogue between Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of Nagorno-Karabakh




