OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), Bernard Fassier (France) and Robert Bradtke (U.S) released a statement today. NEWS.am posts the text:

“The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs (Ambassador Yuri Merzlyakov, the Russian Federation; Ambassador Bernard Fassier, France; Ambassador Robert Bradtke, United States; incoming Russian Co-Chair Ambassador Igor Popov) briefed the OSCE Minsk Group in Vienna May 5 on the current status of negotiations, and thanked them for their continued support for the Co-Chairs’ efforts. They underscored the commitment of the parties to make progress on the elaboration of a settlement based on the Madrid Principles as well as the elements contained in the joint statement issued by Presidents of the Co-Chair countries at the L’Aquila Summit of the Eight July 10, 2009.

In his last trip to Vienna as the Russian Co-Chair, Ambassador Merzlyakov formally introduced Ambassador Popov to the Minsk Group as the new Russian Co-Chair. The Co-Chairs expect to meet the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers in Europe in the coming days to discuss how to move negotiations forward.”

The Nagorno-Karabakh (armed) conflict broke out back in 1991, when, after the demand for self-determination of the Nagorno-Karabakh people, Azerbaijani authorities attempted to resolve the issue through ethnic cleansings, carried out by Soviet security forces (KGB special units) under the pretext of the implementation of the passport regime and by launching of large-scale military operations, which left thousands dead and caused considerable material damage. A cease-fire agreement was established in 1994. Negotiations on conflict settlement are being conducted under the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen (Russia, USA, and France) and on the basis of their Madrid proposals, presented in November, 2007.

Azerbaijan has not yet implemented the 4 resolutions of the UN Security Council adopted in 1993, continuing to provoke arms race in the region and openly violating the basic principles of the international law, non-use of force or threat of force.