Ambassador Richard Hoagland during a press conference Wednesday at Washington Press Club
Announces Andrew Sheffer as new OSCE Minks Group US Co-Chair
WASHINGTON—The US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Richard Hoagland on Wednesday held a news conference during which he presented six main points for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution, reading them to the journalist gathered at the Washington Press Club, reported Voice of America’s Armenian Service.
Below are the key points highlighted by Hoagland.
“In light of Nagorno-Karabakh’s complex history, the sides should commit to determining its final legal status through a mutually agreed and legally binding expression of will in the future. Interim status will be temporary.”
“The area within the boundaries of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region that is not controlled by Baku should be granted an interim status that, at a minimum, provides guarantees for security and self-governance. ”
“The occupied territories surrounding the Nagorno-Karabakh should be returned to Azerbaijani control. There can be no settlement without respect for Azerbaijan’s sovereignty, and the recognition that its sovereignty over these territories must be restored.”
“There should be a corridor linking Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh. It must be wide enough to provide secure passage, but it cannot encompass the whole of Lachin district. ”
“An enduring settlement will have to recognize the right of all IDPs and refugees to return to their former places of residence.”
Newly appointed US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Andrew Schofer
“A settlement must include international security guarantees that would include a peacekeeping operation. There is no scenario in which peace can be assured without a well-designed peacekeeping operation that enjoys the confidence of all sides.”
“The time has come for the sides to commit themselves to peace negotiations, building on the foundation of work done so far. ”
Hoagland said that these are the general policy of international mediators based on the Madrid principles, which are at the center of the negotiations for a resolution to the Karabakh conflict.
“This is a long-term policy, it’s not connected with this or that co-chair. This is our general policy. Of course, the proposed project is more detailed and extensive, but this is the basis of any reasonable solution, and all parties agree on this issue,â€
