Welcoming the Readiness of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers for Negotiations

Following the meeting of the OSCE Minsk Group, co-chairs Igor Popov (Russia), Stéphane Visconti (France), Andrew Schofer (United States), and the personal representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Andrzej Kasprzyk, issued a statement.

The co-chairs' statement noted: “According to available information, the situation along the border of Azerbaijan and Armenia has remained relatively calm since the early morning of July 15. The co-chairs and the personal representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office welcome the reduction in military operations and urge the parties to exert all efforts to continue the de-escalation.”

The co-chairs called on the parties to refrain from inflammatory rhetoric and attempts to change the situation on the ground. They continue to emphasize the necessity of creating an atmosphere conducive to the resumption of the peace process.

The co-chairs welcomed the confirmation by the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan to hold negotiations on the crucial aspects of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as soon as possible and highlighted the importance of a visit by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to the region when the situation permits.