The OSCE Minsk group founders (Russia, USA and France) urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to compromise on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, Interfax reports.
Their joint declaration, published on the OSCE website, states that further steps are needed to reinforce the ceasefire of 1994 and continue successful political dialogue.
The declaration mentions that the leaders of the mediators' delegations met the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers during the unofficial summit in Alma Ata. It was also stressed that the efforts being put in by the disputing sides were not enough to solve the conflict, even without the regrettable shooting incidents in July 2010.
The mediators reminded Azerbijan and Armenia of their obligation to end the conflict peacefully, according to the principles of the Helsinki Final Act.
The principles formulated by Russian, French and US Presidents in Aquila should form the basis of any peace initiative, states the declaration. All elements of the program are tightly connected to each other, so the use of only several elements and dismissal of the others is impossible. However, the full responsibility for the settlement rests with Armenia and Azerbaijan.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and the Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg deeply appriciated the efforts of the Russian side in the conflict’s settlemnt.
