The OSCE chairman-in-office has called for the introduction of an agreed mechanism to investigate ceasefire violations in the Karabakh conflict area.
Audronius Azubalis made the call in his speech at the opening of the 18th session of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Vilnius.
He recalled that agreement to introduce the mechanism had been achieved at a meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia mediated by the Russian president in Sochi.
Although the agreement was reached in March, the investigation mechanism has not yet been introduced. Violations of the ceasefire along the contact line separating Armenian and Azerbaijani troops are practically a daily occurrence. In November two Armenian soldiers and two Azerbaijani soldiers were killed in separate incidents along the contact line.
Audronius Azubalis told the OSCE Ministerial Council that introduction of the mechanism would reduce tensions in the Karabakh conflict area.
Speaking at the Ministerial Council, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, confirmed the US position that the Karabakh conflict can only be settled peacefully.
The Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers, Elmar Mammadyarov and Edward Nalbandian, met ahead of the Ministerial Council yesterday, accompanied by the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, the international body mediating a settlement to the Karabakh conflict.
They discussed the possibility of the adoption of a statement on the conflict at the Ministerial Council.
The foreign ministers of some 45 OSCE member states are attending the Ministerial Council, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, APA reported.
The council's agenda includes protracted conflicts, energy security, cyber security, combating illegal drug trafficking, cooperation on security in Afghanistan and other issues.
At the end of the meeting Ireland will take over the OSCE chairmanship from Lithuania.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
