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Karabakh conflict sides, mediators agree to continue settlement efforts

KIEV, December 05. /ITAR-TASS/. The countries mediators and sides of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have agreed to continue joint efforts aimed at the problem resolution, according to a joint statement adopted here on Thursday by the heads of the delegations of the OSCE Minsk Group member states and the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

“On the occasion of the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Kiev the heads of the delegations of the countries - co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, French Minister Delegate for European Affairs Thierry Repentin, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland) and the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mamedyarov and Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian agreed to continue working together on a just and peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the basis what has been already achieved,” the document says.

The co-chair heads of delegation welcomed the recent resumption of high-level dialogue between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, and expressed their hope that upcoming meetings would advance the peace process. They encouraged the sides to consider measures that would reduce tension in the region.

The foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed to meet again in early 2014 under the auspices of the Minsk Group co-chairs, in order to facilitate further talks at the highest level. The ministers noted that the people of the region expect and deserve progress in settlement of the conflict that has endured far too long, and expressed their appreciation for the mediation role of the co-chair countries, the statement says.

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