Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 5 April (BelTA) – Belarus is ready to provide necessary assistance in the search for a peaceful settlement to the Nagorny Karabakh conflict, spokesman for the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dmitry Mironchik told BelTA.

On 5 April Vienna played host to the meeting of the Minsk Group on Nagorny Karabakh and a special session of the OSCE Permanent Council on Nagorny Karabakh. Representatives of Belarus as the Minsk Group member state took part in both the events and informed the OSCE member states on Belarus’ position and approaches. “We have also confirmed Belarus’ readiness as the Minsk OSCE Group member state and the country that maintains friendly relations with both Armenia and Azerbaijan to provide all necessary assistance to the parties in the search for a peaceful settlement to the conflict,” Dmitry Mironchik stressed.

“We supported the calls from the OSCE current chairmanship and the Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group on Nagorny Karabakh to immediate cessation of hostilities and respect of the ceasefire,” the spokesman for the ministry added. It was also stressed that Belarus advocates the settlement of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict through peaceful means only.

According to Dmitry Mironchik, the Minsk Group planned its meeting before the recent events in Nagorny Karabakh, while a special session of the OSCE Permanent Council was convened on the initiative of the German OSCE Chairmanship due to the escalated conflict in the zone.

The Minsk OSCE Group on Nagorny Karabakh comprises Russia, the United States, France, Belarus, Finland, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and Turkey. A statement was adopted on 5 April according to which the situation in Nagorny Karabakh requires immediate talks under the aegis of the Co-Chairs of the Minsk OSCE Group.

Representatives of all member states expressed their support to the Co-Chairs from Russia, the United States and France in their mediatory attempts and welcomed their plans to hold direct consultations with the parties to the conflict as soon as possible. The Minsk OSCE Group as well as Austria and Serbia condemn the unprecedented level of violence along the contact line, the statement runs. They extended their condolences to the families affected by the conflict and called upon the parties for an immediate ceasefire. “This conflict has no military solution,” the statement says.

According to the latest data, the armed hostilities in the Nagorny Karabakh conflict zone have been stopped. The truce talks are underway. The situation in Nagorny Karabakh escalated on 2 April.