Lukashevich: OSCE MG co-chairs can't ensure security in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone

Right now the OSCE is making every possible effort to prevent the escalation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, although the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs don't have direct opportunities to ensure necessary level of security in the conflict zone, Russia's permanent representative to the OSCE, Alexander Lukashevich, said in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza.

First of all, he stressed urgent need to increase "operational capabilities of the office of personal representative of the OSCE chairman Andrzej Kasprzyk at the contact line in order to monitor complience with cease-fire and non-resumption of military confrontation."

"Unfortunately, such decision has not been reached yet due to conflicting positions of the two parties. We can't find a compromise, but our task is absolutely clear and it is supported by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs," he said.

"I think that at this stage, it is unlikely that the OSCE can do more than what the three co-chairs of the Minsk Group are doing. They are working very actively: a meeting with the participation of foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia was held in Brussels recently. There is a possibility that presidents will also meet," Lukashevich noted.

"Co-chairs' work really helps to prevent attempts to escalate the situation, although, co-chairs are not magicians and can't ensure necessary level of security," he admitted.

At the same time, Russia's permanent representative to the OSCE expressed confidence that co-chairs of the Minsk Group will continue to intensify their efforts. "A meeting with foreign ministers is being prepared in New York. After that we will take necessary measures to improve the level of work with both sides to organize a new summit," he concluded.