OSCE Minsk Group Expresses ‘Serious Concerns’

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs charged with negotiating a peaceful settlement to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs (Ambassadors Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, James Warlick of the United States of America, and Pierre Andrieu of France), together with the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, issued a joint statement “expressing their serious concerns about Armenian and Azerbaijani forces using mortars and heavy weapons in and around civilian areas.”

The statement by the co-chairs goes on to say: “The use of such weapons represents an unacceptable escalation in the conflict. We express our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and recognize the casualties on each side of the international border and Line of Contact. We appeal to the sides in the strongest possible terms to avoid civilian casualties. The sides have an obligation under the Geneva Conventions to protect the safety and security of non-combatants.

“We regret that these incidents took place on the eve of the agreed meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers in New York. We expect the Ministers to have a serious discussion on the escalation of violence and the issues surrounding a negotiated settlement. While we are unable to determine with certainty how the violence originated since each side accuses the other, the parties should work towards an OSCE investigation mechanism as discussed between the Presidents.

“We will continue our work with the sides at the highest levels to de-escalate tensions and advance a lasting and peaceful settlement.”

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On the evening of September 24, as a result of heavy shelling by the Azerbaijani side, one Armenian civilian was killed in the village of Paravakar and two in the village of Berdavan in the Tavush region; another two civilians were injured. Berdavan village mayor Ararat Gabrielyan told Radio Liberty that their injuries are not life threatening.

Armenia’s Defense Ministry issued a statement about the tense situation saying that Armenian military forces will take “necessary measures to stabilize the situation, the consequences of which will be on the shoulders of Azerbaijani leadership.

On the evening of September 24, Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan met with OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in New York. The Nalbandyan- Mammadyarov meeting is expected to take place by the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs on September 25.