OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz joined the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs' call for the sides to renew engagement in the political settlement process as expressed in their statement on 29 March.
"The fighting and the violence we witnessed one year ago – the worst in the past two decades – caused destruction, suffering and human losses. It was a vivid reminder of how quickly the machinery of war can undermine efforts for peace," Kurz said in a statement on the anniversary of the April clashes in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Kurz called on all sides to refrain from any actions that jeopardize the ceasefire. "All sides must live up to their commitment to strictly observe their international humanitarian obligations,” APA cited the OSCE chairman as saying.
Recalling the outbreak of violence in April 2016 along the line of contact, he underlined his hope for fresh impetus in the negotiations. It is now high time for a focus on pragmatic and practical steps for confidence-building as well as a resumption of substantive negotiations," Kurz emphasized.
He voiced his regret at the further loss of lives since the tragic events in last April and expressed his condolences to the affected families.
The minister once again stressed that there is no military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "We should plan for peace now, and not allow war to return with all of its terrible consequences," he added.
Kurz also commended the work of Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk and his team, illustrated by the active facilitation of a humanitarian operation by the International Committee of the Red Cross in this February to retrieve the remains of the deceased servicemen.
"The OSCE Chairmanship stands ready to contribute to the efforts of the sides to further advance and implement the agreements reached during the summits in Vienna and St. Petersburg in 2016," Kurz pointed out.
