By Martin Danielian

YEREVAN, June 19 — The Presidents of Russia, the U.S. and France Vladimir Putin, Barack Obama and Francois Hollande regret that the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan didn`t udnertake resolute steps that the countries called for in the joint statement at Deauville on May 26, 2011 and call upon the sides to speed up harmonization of the Basic Principles for a Settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict provided in January 23, 2012 joint statement at Sochi, reads a statement of three leaders issued in the framework of G-20 summit held in Mexico.

The three countries are the co-chairs of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Minsk Group, which is charged with finding a negotiated settlement.

Moscow, Washington and Paris are united in their strong commitment to a peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The sides of the conflict mustn`t delay accepting important decisions necessary for reaching long-lasting and peaceful settlement, is stated in the document. Russia, the U.S. and France stress that already achieved progress must give an impetus to compete work on framework agreement providing comprehensive peace.

The leaders urge to refrain from maximalist positions in the negotiations, respect the 1994 ceasefire agreement, abstain from hostile rhetoric that increases tension and to be guided by the principles of the Helsinki Final Act – particularly those relating to the non-use of force or the threat of force, territorial integrity, and equal rights and self-determination of peoples – and the elements of a settlement outlined in our countries’ statements at L’Aquila in 2009 and Muskoka in 2010.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian commenting on the joint statement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs stressed that it «may give a stimulus to the negotiation process», adding that Republic of Armenia together with the Co-Chair states is resolute in its intention to reach a peaceful settlement of the conflict.

Yerevan Report