Joint Statement of the Delegations of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine at the special meeting of the OSCE Security Model Committee, 3 July 1998


With regard to what we have just heard about the Commonwealth of Independent States, we take appreciative note that the CIS bodies have finally come to view the crisis management as the most important element of the activities of this institution. So far, the CIS regretfully was not able to protect the interests of its member States in the inter- and intra-State conflicts. Without resolution of the conflicts the CIS will not be able to develop cooperation between its member States at the proper level.

Joint Communique of the President of Azerbaijan, Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine, Strasbourg Meeting, 10 October 1997


Leaders of the four nations were unanimous in assessing threats and risk for the European, as well as for the regional securities. They agreed that the process of integration into Trans-Atlantic and European structures could to a considerable extent reduce these threats and risks.

In this connection, they underlined the prospects of the four nations cooperation within the framework of the OSCE, other European and Atlantic structures, including the recently established Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and the Partnership for Peace NATO Program.

The Presidents of the four states agreed that such cooperation, as well as the development of a distinctive partnership, like that envisaged in the Charter on a Distinctive Partnership between NATO and Ukraine, could become an important element in strengthening stability, and serve as the basis for relationship and further development of cooperation between NATO and other countries in the region.

Georgia and the World: A Vision and Strategy for the Future, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia


Among all partner nations, Georgia has developed especially strong relations with the United States of America and key states of Europe. Their economic, political, military and moral support has been instrumental in helping Georgia to achieve its national goals...

The highest priority of Georgian foreign policy is to achieve full integration into European political, economic, and security structures, thus fulfilling the historical aspiration of the Georgian nation to participate fully in the European community.

Deepening cooperation with the EU represents a paramount aim of Georgian foreign policy.

The EU member states and the community as a whole have supported the territorial integrity an sovereignty of Georgia since the early days of its independence...

Georgia considers the co-operation with the United States of America and European countries as a main segment of the strategy of integration into the European and Euro-Atlantic structures.



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Statement by Armenian President R. Kocharian at the UN Millenium Summit,
7 September 2000


Armenia remains committed to the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict. We will continue to work intensively with the Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group, and we underscore their contribution to maintaining the cease-fire regime. Equally, we are ready to maintain direct contacts with Azerbaijan in order to search for compromises, although we think that direct negotiation between Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabagh would be more productive, especially taking into account the fact that Nagorno-Karabagh is a de facto established and open for a dialogue state.

In this connection I would like to specially mention that the situation around Nagorno-Karabagh today is a consequence of the Azerbaijani aggression of 1991-92 aimed at the ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population, as well as a consequence of the Azerbaijani refusal to accept the recent proposals by the mediators in the conflict.

The contemporary history of conflict resolutions reflects the changing nature of inter- and intrastate relations. It clearly displays the necessity of breaking through the frameworks of conventional perceptions of sovereignty. In this context, we are confident that the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict can only be materialised on the basis of the legal equality of the parties to the conflict.

OSCE Lisbon Summit 1996
Annex 1 of the Lisbon Document
2-3 December 1996

With regard to the statement by the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, the Delegation of Armenia wishes to express its concern over the following issues:

1. The statement does not reflect either the spirit or the letter of the Minsk Group's mandate as established by the Budapest Summit 1994, which proposed negotiations with a view to reaching a political agreement. The problem of status has been a subject of discussion in direct negotiations which have yet to be concluded.

2. The statement predetermines the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, contradicting the decision of the OSCE Ministerial Council of 1992, which referred this issue to the competence of the OSCE Minsk Conference, to be convened after the conclusion of a political agreement.

3. The Armenian side is convinced that a solution of the problem can be found on the basis of international law and the principles laid down in the Helsinki Final Act, above all on the basis of the principle of self-determination.

4. In the interests of reaching a compromise solution, the Armenian side is prepared to continue with the most intensive negotiations, both within the Minsk Group and on the basis of direct contacts co-ordinated by the Co-Chairmen of that Group.

I request that this statement be annexed to the Lisbon Summit Declaration.

OSCE-Lisbon Summit 1996
Annex 1 of the Lisbon Document
2-3 December 1996

    You all know that no progress has been achieved in the last two years to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the issue of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan. I regret that the efforts of the Co-Chairmen of the Minsk Conference to reconcile the views of the parties on the principles for a settlement have been unsuccessful.

    Three principles which should form part of the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were recommended by the Co-Chairmen of the Minsk Group. These principles are supported by all member States of the Minsk Group. They are:

    -territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia and the Azerbaijan Republic;

    -legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh defined in an agreement based on self-determination which confers on Nagorno-Karabakh the highest degree of self-rule within Azerbaijan;

    -guaranteed security for Nagorno-Karabakh and its whole population, including mutual obligations to ensure compliance by all the Parties with the provisions of the settlement.