The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs issued a statement on January 27 regarding the upsurge in violence along the Karabakh-Azerbaijan Line of Contact and the Armenia-Azerbaijan state border in recent weeks that is threatening to destabilize the region. Bloody clashes have resulted in numerous casualties from both sides.
Ambassadors Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, James Warlick of the US, Pierre Andrieu of France and Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office met with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Krakow, Poland. This is the first time that the Co-Chairs have backed away from statements holding both sides accountable and seem to be holding Baku responsible for the recent upsurge.
The statement read:
“We expressed to the Minister our serious concern about reported incursions across the Line of Contact and the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, resulting in casualties. The rise in violence that began last year must stop for confidence to be restored and progress to be made in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. We called on Azerbaijan to observe its commitments to a peaceful resolution of the conflict. We also call on Armenia to take all measures to reduce tensions. All sides must abide by the terms of the ceasefire agreement. Violence undermines efforts to bring about peace.
We discussed with the Minister possible next steps in the peace process, including comprehensive negotiations that can lead to a lasting settlement which would benefit all the people of the region. We reminded the Minister of our mandates and expressed concern about voices critical of the ongoing negotiation process, the role of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs, and the duties of OSCE monitors.
We emphasized the importance of measures aimed at avoiding unintended incidents along the Line of Contact and Armenia-Azerbaijan border. We also discussed the implementation at the earliest opportunity of the Presidents’ agreement to exchange data on missing persons under the aegis of the ICRC.
The Co-Chairs plan to meet with Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian in the near future and then travel to the region.”
