Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group

The U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian, representing the co-chair countries of the OSCE Minsk Group, have expressed their support for the resumption of direct dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan under the auspices of the Minsk Group co-chairs.

The co-chairing countries call on both parties to continue the dialogue between the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, which began in September in New York and continued with meetings in Paris in November, and to maintain communications at the leadership level to promote sustainable peace in the region.

The co-chairing countries urge Armenia and Azerbaijan to refrain from provocative rhetoric and actions and to fully implement the commitments they made on November 9, 2020, and reaffirmed on November 26, 2021, by the Prime Minister of Armenia, the President of Azerbaijan, and the President of the Russian Federation, as well as other jointly agreed arrangements concerning the ceasefire.

They encourage Armenia and Azerbaijan to continue their cooperation under the auspices of the co-chairs to achieve specific progress on humanitarian matters, including, in particular, the voluntary return of prisoners, missing persons, and displaced individuals, as well as the protection of historical and cultural sites. Furthermore, they stress the necessity to constructively work towards resolving other unresolved issues, such as border delimitation and demarcation, and the restoration of economic and transport links.

The co-chairing countries also express concern over recent incidents along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and affirm that the use of force or the threat of force for resolving border disputes is unacceptable. They remind Armenia and Azerbaijan of their obligation to adhere to the requirements of international humanitarian law and urge both parties to immediately remove all restrictions preventing humanitarian organizations from accessing affected areas and populations.

The co-chairs encourage both parties to welcome the co-chairs to the region as soon as possible, so they can assess the situation on the ground firsthand, achieve significant progress in implementing the humanitarian initiatives discussed in the aforementioned meetings, and reach an agreement on the agenda for future actions.

They reiterate their firm support for the ongoing work of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office (PRCIO) in the region and urge both parties to cooperate fully.

The co-chair countries of the OSCE Minsk Group reaffirm their commitment to working with the parties to find comprehensive solutions to all remaining issues related to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and to support a secure, stable, prosperous, and peaceful future for the South Caucasus region, in line with their mandate.