OSCE will open its offices in Baku and Yerevan

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Subject: OSCE will open its offices in Baku and Yerevan

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OSCE will open its offices in Baku and Yerevan


USIS Washington File
27 November 1998
 
OSCE'S GEREMEK ON AGREEMENT WITH GEORGIA, ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN
 
Vienna -- The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE) said memoranda of understanding were signed between the OSCE
and the governments of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan "with the aim
of deepening co-operation especially in the human rights field. Also
the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan welcomed the proposal to
open OSCE offices in their capitals as a means to facilitate this
enhanced co-operation."
 
The signings took place during OSCE Chairman-in-Office Bronislaw
Geremek's visit to the three countries November 23-26. "The
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was foremost on the agenda during the visits
to Armenia and Azerbaijan," a November 26 OSCE press release said.
 
A November 19 press release noted that Geremek met with the
co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group, who discussed their recent trip
to the region of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
 
Following are the texts of the two press releases:
 
--------(Begin text)-----
 
OSCE Press Release No# 76/98
 
ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE 
The Secretariat
Vienna, Austria
Press Release
 
OSCE CHAIRMAN-IN-OFFICE CONCLUDES VISIT TO GEORGIA, ARMENIA AND
AZERBAIJAN

Baku, 26 November 1998 - The Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Polish
Foreign Minister Bronislaw Geremek, is today concluding a four-day
visit to Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
 
During his visit, Memoranda of Understanding were signed between the
OSCE and all three governments with the aim of deepening co-operation
especially in the human rights field. Also the governments of Armenia
and Azerbaijan welcomed the proposal to open OSCE offices in their
capitals as a means to facilitate this enhanced co-operation.
 
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was foremost on the agenda during the
visits to Armenia and Azerbaijan. All parties involved in the conflict
agreed that the Minsk process is the suitable framework for the
continuation of the peace process. The governments of Armenia and
Azerbaijan as well as the leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh expressed
their firm commitments to support efforts to achieve a resumption of
peace negotiations. Upon the suggestion of the Chairman-in-Office, all
parties involved agreed to an exchange of prisoners of war. 
--------------(End text)----------
 
-------------(Begin text)---------

ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE 
The Secretariat
Vienna, Austria
 
OSCE CHAIRMAN-IN-OFFICE MEETS WITH CO-CHAIRMEN OF THE 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.
 
-----------(End text)-----------

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