Chairman-in-Office meets with OSCE Minsk Group

WARSAW, 19 November 1998 - The Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Bronislaw Geremek, met today in Warsaw with the French, Russian and United States Co-Chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group.

The Co-Chairs informed the Chairman-in-Office about their recent trip to the region of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. They outlined to the Chairman-in-Office their proposal - made during 9-11 November discussions in Baku, Yerevan and Stepanakert - of principles that might constitute an appropriate basis for negotiating settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Each of the Parties indicated readiness to study carefully the proposal, to signify whether it might represent a basis for formal negotiations, and to provide the Co-Chairmen with a formal written statement of their official positions at the earliest opportunity.

The Chairman-in-Office expressed appreciation for the report; underscored his assessment that the Minsk Process was at a sensitive stage; endorsed the Co-Chairs' efforts; and called upon all the Parties to examine seriously the new proposal with a view towards accepting it as the basis for resuming negotiations. He emphasized the necessity for the Parties to refrain from making public statements or pursuing temporary tactical advantage through other means that might negate prospects for commencing early negotiations. In that connection, the Chairman-in-Office called on all the Parties to demonstrate the political will to negotiate and compromise in the interest of achieving a mutually acceptable and advantageous resolution of the conflict.

The Chairman-in-Office and the Co-Chairmen emphasized the importance of the continuation of the existing cease-fire on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and the Line of Contact. They welcomed the Parties' continued assurances of their desire to resolve the conflict through peaceful negotiations.

The Chairman-in-Office informed the Co-Chairs he plans to visit the Caucasus region from 23 to 26 November and expressed hope that his visit would make an important contribution to the establishment of lasting peace and stability in the region.