The OSCE Minsk Group’s quick response to the Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani Presidents’ statement in Sochi on conducting an immediate investigation on the recent incidents in the line of contact is only welcomed. The Armenian side has always supported this initiative, Hrayr Karapetyan, the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Defense, National Security and Internal Affairs, MP of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Karapetyan expressed hope that an unbiased investigation will be conducted. “We have repeatedly stated the international community should give a concrete response to the ceasefire violations on the frontline, not only make declarative statements. In this regard, we only welcome the concrete steps by the Minsk Group,” Karapetyan noted.  He emphasized the Armenian side has always fulfilled its commitments in maintenance of ceasefire. “If an unbiased international monitoring is carried out, the truth will come to the light,” he underscored.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am reported earlier, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs released a statement on Wednesday. The Co-Chairs have asked Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson in Office, to carry out an immediate investigation with the participation of all sides, as agreed in the March 5 joint statement issued in Sochi by Presidents Dmitri Medvedev, Ilham Aliyev, and Serge Sargsian. The Co-Chairs will travel next week to the region, where they will call upon the parties to cooperate fully with the investigation.

The Co-Chairs strongly condemn any loss of life, and urge all sides to exercise restraint, respect the 1994 cease-fire, and fulfill their obligations undertaken in Astrakhan in October 2010 and Sochi earlier this month.”

Official Yerevan has already welcomed the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs’ initiative.