OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs issue statement

YEREVAN, 1 October 2009 - The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Yuri Merzlyakov of Russia, Bernard Fassier of France, and Robert Bradtke of the United States, released the following statement today:

"The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are in Yerevan to meet President Serge Sargsyan and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

The Co-Chairs will also travel to Stepanakert October 2-3 and Baku October 4-6 in advance of the proposed meeting between President Sargsyan and President Ilham Aliyev in Chisinau, Moldova October 8. They will discuss the key remaining unresolved issues within the Basic Principles.

The Co-Chairs would also like to reiterate the points made separately by each of our governments that the Minsk Group negotiations are a separate process that should move forward along its own rationale, without preconditions, without any linkages, within a reasonable timeframe, and without imposed acceleration or delay."