Lukashevich: the format of the OSCE Minsk Group shouldn't be changed

Russia's permanent representative to the OSCE, Alexander Lukashevich, has said at a meeting of the Permanent Council that the format of three participants of the Minsk Group shouldn't be changed, because it would undermine their role in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"The format of the ''three representatives'' whose role is fixed by the OSCE decisions and UN Security Council is efficient and doesn't require adjustments. We consider that these are counterproductive attempts to undermine the role of the co-chairs and their achievements. Moreover, it can only complicate the current difficult settlement process," Tass cites him as saying.

Lukashevich said that Russia will continue mediation to resolve the conflict. "As a member of the three representatives of the Minsk Group, we are in close cooperation with the United States and France and we will continue mediation efforts to assist the parties to find a mutually consensual basis for resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," Russia's permanent representative to the OSCE said.