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During a meeting of the Permanent Council of the OSCE, the US Ambassador Daniel Baer said that as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, the United States will continue to work closely with the sides to achieve a lasting, negotiated settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on the principles of international law. The statement is published on the website of the US Mission to the OSCE.

He underscored that the protracted conflicts within the OSCE region should remain high on the Organisation’s agenda.

Daniel Baer expressed regret over the escalation of violence along the line of contact and the Armenia-Azerbaijan state border over the past several months and condemned the use of mortars and other heavy weaponry that caused civilian casualties.

“We echo the Co-Chairs’ appeals to the sides to take immediate steps to reduce tensions and protect lives,” the US Ambassador said.

Baer further urged the government of Azerbaijan to respect and uphold the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all its citizens, consistent with its international commitments and obligations. “This is not separate from, but indeed a central component of, achieving a comprehensive and sustainable security for Azerbaijan and the region,” he highlighted.

For his part, the permanent representative of Russia to the OSCE, Alexander Lukashevich expressed concern over the lack of progress in the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict despite the meetings held. He wrote on his Twitter  that as OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, Russia upholds an activation of joint mediatory efforts of settling the conflict.

Véronique Roger-Lacan, the representative of France to the OSCE, also made a statement on behalf of the three countries co-chairing the Minsk Group, the Russian Federation, United States and France. The statement  is published on the website of the Permanent Representation of France to the OSCE.

“The Minsk Group is the only mediation format that has been accepted by the sides and has the full confidence of all OSCE participating States,” the statement reads.

Roger-Lacan noted that the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group are working on the endorsement by the parties of confidence building measures, such as the creation of a prevention and investigation mechanism of the ceasefire violations along the line of contact.

“The Co-Chairs will continue to brief international and regional organisations interested in supporting the Minsk Group process. They will continue their engagement to work closely with the sides in order to reach a peaceful and sustainable settlement of the conflict,” the statement reads.

On her Twitter, Véronique Roger-Lacan wrote that the OSCE Minsk Group contributes to achievement of a balanced and peaceful resolution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. According to her, the reason why the Nagorno Karabakh conflict remains unsettled so far is the lack of the necessary political will of the sides,” the French diplomat notes. V. Roger-Lacan writes  that the Minsk Group supports the activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross in exchange of information related to the missing persons.