OSCE hopes for intensive peace talks on Karabakh, CiO rep saysSeptember 15, 2014 - 17:16 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - OSCE hopes for the parties in the Karabakh conflict to participate in intensive peace talks, welcoming any initiatives to move the process forward, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office said, according to Trend. During his visit to Armenia in June, OSCE CiO Didier Burkhalter stressed that Switzerland supports the OSCE Minsk Group efforts aimed at the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. According to Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are ready to show every possible assistance in the matter. Kasprzyk also hailed the meeting of Armenian and Azeri leaders in Sochi and Wales expressing hope for the dialogue to continue during the meeting in France. French President Francois Hollande is expected to meet Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders in October. According to French ambassador to Azerbaijan Pascal Monnier, the trilateral meeting is scheduled to take place in Paris. The meeting will focus on the Karabakh conflict settlement efforts, the envoy said, stressing the importance of the event in preservation of peace. The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now. Top stories The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. London’s Armenian community has been left feeling “under attack” after the city’s Genocide monument was vandalised. The United States believes there should be an international mission to provide transparency. Partner news | Armenia: Opposition activist transferred to Investigative Committee Activist Samvel Vardanyan has been accused of insulting the lawmaker Hakob Aslanyan from the ruling Civil Contract party. Russia confirms start of withdrawal of peacekeepers from Karabakh The Kremlin has confirmed reports about the start of the withdrawal of Russian peacekeeping forces in Karabakh. France recalls its ambassador to Azerbaijan France on April 16 said it had recalled for consultations the French ambassador to Azerbaijan. Protesters rally as Georgia debates 'foreign agent' bill Georgian critics label the bill "the Russian law", comparing it to legislation used by the Kremlin to crack down on dissent. |