OSCE assessment mission’s report on seven territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh give rise to concerns but contains positive points as well, said the head of Republican Party’s parliamentary group.

Galust Sahakyan hailed positive Co-Chairs’ proposal to involve Stepanakert in talks, he told a briefing on Friday. Republican MP also noted the mediators are insisting on peaceful solution to the Karabakh conflict which he called a positive stance as well. “Thirdly, Co-Chairs did not trust Azerbaijani propaganda which claims drugs are cultivated and nuclear waste is stored in the territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh. The report says the territories are populated by civilians who are engaged in agriculture,” Sahakyan said stressing the Armenian side is definitely not enthusiastic about the report.    

The report of OSCE assessment mission says the mediators noticed Armenians live in precarious conditions, with poor infrastructure, little economic activity, and limited access to public services. Visiting the territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh, the co-chairs “saw stark evidence of the disastrous consequences of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the failure to reach a peaceful settlement”.