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The OSCE Minsk Group is the only format that the parties agreed to, OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier said in an interview with 1news.az, while commenting on Karabakh peace process and his visit to the South Caucasus in July.

“I had very in-depth discussions with the Presidents and the Foreign Ministers of both Azerbaijan and Armenia when I visited in July of this year. I also met with Ministers Mammadyarov and Nalbandian in New York in September on the margin of the UN General Assembly.

My messages to both Ministers from my side are similar.

First, there is no alternative to a peaceful, negotiated solution for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the basis of Madrid principles.

Second, prerequisites for such a solution are the strict observance of the ceasefire regime, removing snipers from the line of contact and abstaining from retaliatory measures and militant rhetoric which could fuel further escalation of tensions.

And the third point that I tried to put across is that no external actor – be it OSCE or any other international player – can resolve a conflict or impose a solution: it requires the political will, commitment and responsibility of the sides to find a lasting peaceful solution.

My visit in July to the region reinforced my conviction that the conflict continues to threaten regional stability, and inhibit the region’s economic and social development. The longer the conflict remains unresolved the more difficult it becomes to get political compromise and overcome the differences, including those in the minds of people. Today’s youth already has no experience of life without the conflict,” said Lamberto Zannier.

The OSCE Secretary General expressed concern about the “absence of any tangible progress on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement.”

“For my part, I fully support the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group and its Co-Chairs. The OSCE Minsk Group is the only format that the parties agreed to and any changes are for the parties to agree. However, resolving the conflict is not about bringing more countries or international organizations into the peace process,” said Lamberto Zannier.

Referring to the reopening of Stepanakart airport, the OSCE Secretary General said, “I am aware that this is a controversial issue, which should also be discussed. My primary concern here is again a security one. In July this year, shortly after my visit to the region, the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group received assurances from the sides that they would reject any threat or use of force against civil aircraft, pursue the matter through diplomatic steps, and refrain from politicizing the issue. Fulfilling these commitments is essential.”