AZERBAIJAN: OSCE hopes to restore cross border cooperation between sides involved in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Record ID: 218153

  • Title: AZERBAIJAN: OSCE hopes to restore cross border cooperation between sides involved in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
  • Date: 7th March 2012
  • Summary: BAKU, AZERBAIJAN (MARCH 6, 2012) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS, AMBASSADORS ROBERT BRADTKE OF THE UNITED STATES, SAYING: "We think there are some good opportunities to develop humanitarian contacts. This was something that the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan referred to in the joint statement they issued in Sochi with (Russia
  • Embargoed: 22nd March 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan
  • Country: Azerbaijan
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA92MURGAQFDKOY12VR16FKUAPG
  • Story Text: After a four-day working visit to the South Caucasus the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs from the USA, Russia and France say they hope to restore humanitarian and cross border co-operation between Armenia, Azerbaijan and breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region.Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group Co-Chairs from the USA, Russia and France, mandated as mediators to facilitate a solution to the conflict of Azerbaijan's breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region, said on Tuesday (March 6) they put forward a new action plan acceptable for all sides.
    Efforts by international mediators under the auspices of the OSCE, focused on finding a temporary solution to the problem including strong autonomy for Karabakh, have so far led nowhere. The Minsk Group members hope that establishing of direct humanitarian contacts could be seen as the first steps on a long path towards a long-awaited solution.
    Nagorno-Karabakh, a mainly ethnic Armenian Christian enclave inside Azeri borders, declared independence in 1991 with support from Armenia and fought Muslim Azerbaijan in a war that killed some 35,000 people before a shaky ceasefire was signed in 1994.

    "We think there are some good opportunities to develop humanitarian contacts. This was something that the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan referred to in the joint statement they issued in Sochi with (Russian) President (Dmitry) Medvedev. They encouraged us to do things to develop those humanitarian contacts. We think one area and some of that is already beginning - Ambassador (Mikhail) Shvedkoy from Russia has already organised a meeting of intellectuals - and we think there is an area of good promise, which is cross border co-operation," Minsk Group Co-Chairs, Ambassadors Robert Bradtke of the United States told media at the end of the group's four day visit to the region and talks with the presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and de-facto authorities of the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh.
    Skirmishes, sometimes fatal, erupt frequently along front lines and both sides accuse each other in violating the fragile ceasefire. Azerbaijan's Defence Ministry confirmed two Azeri soldiers were killed last weekend.
    The dispute between mostly Muslim Azerbaijan and mostly Christian Armenia remains a threat to stability in the South Caucasus, an important route for oil and gas supplies from the Caspian region to Europe.
    More than a decade of mediation led by Russia, France and the United States has failed to produce a final peace deal and Azerbaijan has said it may use force to try to regain control of Nagorno-Karbakh.
    Russia exerts strong leverage on both ex-Soviet states, and experts say mediation in Karabakh could consolidate Russia's strong role in the Southern Caucasus region.
    No country has recognised Karabakh's independence.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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