OSCE hopes for progress in Karabakh process in 2009

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) hopes for progress in settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict next year.



"We hope we will see progress in 2009," new OSCE chairman, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said.



The OSCE chairman-in-office and Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb officially handed over office of the chairman to his Greek counterpart Dora Bakoyannis at the meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Helsinki on Dec. 4.



Greece's chairmanship in the Organization will start on January 1, 2009.



Bakoyannis said Greece believes that frequent meetings between representatives of Azerbaijan and Armenia will lead to the establishment of mutual confidence which is essential to resolve the conflict.



"Greece fully supports these efforts and encourages constructive engagement from both parties, in line with the Statement delivered at the Helsinki Summit earlier this month by the French Foreign Minister on behalf of the European Union," Bakoyannis said, Trend Azeri news agency reports.