The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Yuri Merzlyakov of Russia, Bernard Fassier of France, and Robert Bradtke of the United States, released the following statement:

“The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs (Ambassador Yuri Merzlyakov, the Russian Federation; Ambassador Bernard Fassier, France; Ambassador Robert Bradtke, United States; incoming Russian Co-Chair Ambassador Igor Popov) briefed the OSCE Minsk Group in Vienna May 5 on the current status of negotiations, and thanked them for their continued support for the Co-Chairs' efforts. They underscored the commitment of the parties to make progress on the elaboration of a settlement based on the Madrid Principles as well as the elements contained in the joint statement issued by Presidents of the Co-Chair countries at the L'Aquila Summit of the Eight July 10, 2009.

In his last trip to Vienna as the Russian Co-Chair, Ambassador Merzlyakov formally introduced Ambassador Popov to the Minsk Group as the new Russian Co-Chair. The Co-Chairs expect to meet the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers in Europe in the coming days to discuss how to move negotiations forward.”