YEREVAN. -- The NATO declaration also referenced the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act as the guiding principles for a resolution to the conflict, OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair, Ambassador James Warlick said answering to the Armenian News-NEWS.am inquiry.

“These principles include the non-use of force, territorial integrity, and the rights and self-determination of peoples. A settlement must be based on all of these principles. The  Co-Chair countries will continue to work with the sides towards a lasting settlement,” the diplomat said commenting on the NATO declaration adopted in Wales.

The diplomat added that as an Alliance committed to a Europe whole, free and at peace, NATO has an interest in the resolution of the protracted conflicts including the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

“It is important to highlight that the NATO Summit declaration called on the sides to work towards a settlement within the established negotiation format. In the case of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the format to which the sides agree and fully support is the OSCE Minsk Group,” he said.

Commenting on the initiatives to draft a resolution and adopt a report on Karabakh conflict at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), James Warlick noted that thhe Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group have seen the actions being taken up by PACE.

“We want to emphasize that the Minsk Group process through OSCE is the format for negotiations recognized by the parties and the international community. We hope that all sides will work constructively with us to find a lasting settlement,” Ambassador said.

As reported earlier, the final declaration adopted in Wales said the NATO “Allies also remain committed in their support to the territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova”. The document also said NATO will continue to support efforts towards a peaceful settlement of the conflicts in the south Caucasus, as well as in the Republic of Moldova.