OSCE Minsk Group to settle Karabakh conflict - Armenia

The OSCE Minsk Group mediator co-chair states, featuring Russia, the U.S. and France, have the mandate corresponding to an agency of the international community to deal with the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, the statement made by the Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian says in connection to the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the OSCE Minsk Group, News.am reports.

“20 years ago today, by the decision of the Foreign Ministerial Council of the Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Minsk process of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement was launched. As a result, the Minsk Group and its Co-Chairmanship were formed, with the goal of reaching a peaceful settlement through negotiations, based on the basic principles of international law.

"The Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship of Russia, the United States and France is the only mediation structure dealing with the Nagorno-Karabakh issue with the relevant mandate of the international community.

 "The Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group have made an important contribution to preserving the ceasefire, the reduction in tension in the conflict zone, the continuation of negotiations between the sides and elaborating the principles of the peaceful settlement of the conflict. In preserving the ceasefire the Co-Chairs are effectively cooperating with the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, who also has an important role in the preservation of the ceasefire," the statement reads.