VIENNA—The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassador Igor Popov of Russia, Bernard Fassier of France, and Robert Bradtke of the United States, released the following statement Thursday, expressing their concern and urging compromises from both sides. Below is the statement:
The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs (Ambassador Bernard Fassier of France; Ambassador Robert Bradtke of the United States; Ambassador Igor Popov of the Russian Federation) met with the members of the Minsk Group July 28 in Vienna, Austria.
They briefed the Minsk Group on recent developments in negotiations on the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, including: discussions held in St. Petersburg June 17, 2010 by the presidents of the Russian Federation, Armenia, and Azerbaijan; the meeting of the Heads of Delegation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries with the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia July 17, 2010; and the joint statements issued by the Minsk Group Co-Chair countries in Muskoka and Almaty.
The Co-Chairs stressed that efforts made so far by both sides of the conflict have not been sufficient to overcome their differences, and that additional actions are needed to reinforce the ceasefire and demonstrate a spirit of compromise. To assist the parties in their efforts, the Co-Chairs plan to visit the region in early September.
