OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs issue statement

MUNICH, 22 November 2009 - The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Yury Merzlyakov of Russia, Bernard Fassier of France, and Robert Bradtke of the United States, released the following statement today:

"President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Armenia Serzh Sargsian met November 22, 2009 at the residence of the French Consul General in Munich at the initiative of OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Ambassador Yuri Merzlyakov (Russian Federation), Ambassador Bernard Fassier (France), Ambassador Robert Bradtke (United States).

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian also participated in the talks, as well as the personal representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk.

During this meeting, the sixth such meeting this year, the two presidents engaged in a detailed and in-depth discussion of the most important unresolved points in the Co-Chairs' proposals. The talks, which lasted almost four hours, were constructive. In some areas, progress was made. At the same time, some issues still remain open.

The Presidents instructed their foreign ministers to continue working with the Co-Chairs on these matters. As a next step, the Co-Chairs are organizing a working session with the two ministers in advance of the OSCE Ministerial Council, which will take place December 1-2 in Athens."