Press Release

Date: September 9, 1999

Meeting of the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE with the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group for the Settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

Mr. Knut Vollebaek, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, met in Oslo on September 9, 1999 with the American, French, and Russian Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

In the context of the preparations for the upcoming September 15-18 visit of the Chairman in Office to the South Caucasus, the Co-Chairs conveyed to him their analysis of the current situation and prospects for an overall resolution of the conflict. It was noted that, following the efforts of both the Chairman-in-Office and the Co-Chairs, and responsive in particular to the call made at their previous meeting on March 3, the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan engaged in a series of direct talks at the highest level.

According to the parties, the meetings held since then, particularly the recent tete-a-tete meetings of July 16 and August 24 in Geneva between Presidents Aliyev and Kocharian, have permitted an easing of tensions on the ground and promoted an atmosphere of greater mutual confidence. The meetings have led, moreover, to an agreed approach on further steps to help consolidate the cease-fire and move toward relaunching the negotiations in the framework of the Minsk Process.

The Co-Chairs are pleased at the intensification of this dialogue. They encourage an ever deeper substantive discussion and the widening of its format within the Minsk Group context, so that all the parties involved can reach the necessary compromises to achieve a settlement. Only the parties themselves can make the choices required to assure the long-term welfare of their populations through a durable settlement. The Co-Chairs, who have already set forth principles that can serve as the basis for negotiating a settlement, are prepared to bring to bear all possible assistance to promote a successful solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis.

Thanking the Chairman-in-Office for his unwavering attention and support to their efforts, the Co-Chairs expressed the hope that his visit to Baku and Yerevan will give new impetus to the peace process. The Chairman-in-Office reiterated his support for the work of the Co-Chairs, and called on all the parties to show flexibility and to consent to mutual concessions to speed the attainment of a durable negotiated settlement that will bring peace and prosperity to the people of this region.