OSCE Chairman-in-Office meets with OSCE Minsk Group

WARSAW, 8 October 1998 - The Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Polish Foreign Minister Bronislaw Geremek, met on 8 October 1998 in Warsaw with the French, Russian and United States Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group.

The Co-Chairs informed the Chairman-in-Office about their September trip to the region of the conflict and on the results of their meetings with the leadership of the three Parties. They noted with satisfaction the Parties' aspiration for the prompt renewal of negotiations for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the OSCE Minsk Process framework and emphasized the importance of maintaining the intensity of their collective effort towards that aim.

The Co-Chairs informed the Chairman-in-Office about a new approach to resolving Nagorno-Karabakh's status under their consideration that seeks to apply creatively the concept of a common state.

The Chairman-in-Office supports the Co-Chairs' effort to find a mutually acceptable solution to the conflict and calls upon all the Parties involved in the conflict to demonstrate the political will to negotiate from constructive positions that reflect their legitimate interests and concerns.

The Chairman-in-Office and the Co-Chairs 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' assurances of their desire to resolve the conflict through peaceful means, as expressed to the Co-Chairmen.

The Chairman-in-Office informed the Co-Chairs he plans to visit the Caucasus region from 15-18 October and expressed hope that his visit would add further impetus to the OSCE Minsk Process.