At recent talks led by the United States, Russia and France, representing the Co-Chair countries of the OSCE Minsk Group, the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to advance a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict following a significant escalation of violence along the Line of Contact in early April.
In a joint statement, the Co-Chairs reiterated that “there can be no military solution to the conflict,” and insisted on the importance of respecting the 1994 and 1995 ceasefire agreements. They noted that both Presidents “reiterated their commitment to the ceasefire and the peaceful settlement of the conflict” and agreed to “finalize in the shortest possible time an OSCE investigative mechanism,” as well as an expansion of the existing OSCE monitoring mission. The Presidents also agreed on a next round of talks with “an aim to resuming negotiations on a comprehensive settlement.”
Nagorno-Karabakh is a small piece of land that lies within the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan, but has been under control of ethnic Armenian separatists, with Armenia’s support, since 1994.
The United States strongly supports the Minsk Group process and the Co-Chairs’ efforts to mediate a fair and just resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on the principles of international law, the UN Charter, and the Helsinki Final Act, particularly the principles of non-use of force, territorial integrity, and self-determination.
