Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister addresses OSCE, calls for work toward peaceful settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to be advanced

VIENNA, 11 February 2016 – In his address to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna today Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov spoke about current security challenges in the South Caucasus and stressed the need to revitalize the Minsk Group for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
 
Azimov highlighted Azerbaijan’s adherence to the Minsk process and called for a meeting of all members of the Minsk Group to be convened to ensure full use of this format in resolving the conflict. “Delay in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the remaining status-quo has a negative impact on regional security and the implementation of regional projects.”
 
He also stressed Azerbaijan’s continued commitment to international norms and to fighting transnational threats such as terrorism, trafficking of drugs and radicalization.
 
Economic reforms and creation of favourable conditions for investment are among the priorities of Azerbaijan, said Deputy Minister Azimov. Speaking about Azerbaijan’s achievements in fighting corruption by developing e-government services, he expressed readiness to share this experience with other OSCE participating States.
 
He expressed Azerbaijan’s support for the efforts of Germany's 2016 OSCE Chairmanship to promote sustainable connectivity and to create the impetus for better economic exchanges in the OSCE area.

On 25-27 April 2016, Azerbaijan will host the 7th Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations in Baku, which, according to Azimov, will be another contribution by the country to the development of inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue. “Promotion of multiculturalism is today our state policy, which creates the necessary conditions for representatives of different nations and ethnicities to co-exist peacefully.”
 
The OSCE Permanent Council is one of the main regular decision-making bodies of the Organization bringing together representatives of all 57 OSCE participating States. It convenes weekly in Vienna to discuss developments in the OSCE area and to make decisions.