OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, in Yerevan, urges for progress towards a sustainable and peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

YEREVAN, 30 June 2016 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, on a visit to Yerevan from 29 to 30 June as part of his official trip to the South Caucasus, urged progress towards a sustainable and peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He stressed the OSCE Chairmanship’s resolve to contribute to moving the settlement process forward.

“It is a positive development that the situation in the conflict zone has become calmer,” Steinmeier said after his meeting with Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan and talks with Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian. “Nonetheless, renewed escalation remains a real threat as long as negotiation efforts stagnate. In order to allow for progress in the peace process we need concrete measures to stabilise the ceasefire and to foster mutual trust.”

Acknowledging the positive momentum that has emerged since the latest summit between the Presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation on 20 June 2016, Steinmeier called upon his interlocutors to prove their readiness for compromise which is a basic prerequisite from the sides for progress.

The Chairperson-in-Office reconfirmed his full support for the mediation efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and for his Personal Representative, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk.

With respect to the important role of civil society, which needs to be closely engaged on the path towards a conflict settlement, Steinmeier met representatives of civil society during a visit to the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

During his visit in Armenia the Chairperson-in-Office also met with representatives of the de facto authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh.

From Yerevan Steinmeier travels to Azerbaijan, and will conclude his three-day visit to the South Caucasus region in Georgia.