Russia says OSCE MG cannot be revived, calls for its formal dissolution

The OSCE Minsk Group, co-chaired by Russia, the US, and France, cannot be reinstated as an international negotiation format, along with all its associated institutions, according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.

She made this statement during a briefing, stressing that the structures of the Minsk Group should be dissolved, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

"All structures of this very Minsk Conference, the Minsk Group itself, the High-Level Planning Group, and the post of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement are subject to dissolution," Zakharova stated.

She underscored that the most appropriate course of action would be "a joint proposal by Baku and Yerevan to eliminate these institutions."

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson also recalled that Armenia officially recognized Karabakh as an integral part of Azerbaijan following a summit involving Armenia, Azerbaijan, the EU, and France.

"This happened in Prague on October 6, 2022. Moreover, the situation on the ground changed drastically in September 2023," Zakharova emphasized.

On March 13, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry announced that Yerevan and Baku had reached an agreement on the text of a peace treaty, concluding the negotiation process. The Armenian side clarified that they are now awaiting Baku’s proposals regarding the location and date for signing the document.

While the finalized version of the agreement has not yet been published by either Armenia or Azerbaijan, statements from Armenian authorities indicate that both parties have agreed to dissolve the OSCE Minsk Group as a negotiation platform following the signing of the treaty. Additionally, the agreement reportedly includes a provision to exclude the presence of third-party forces along the border.

By Tamilla Hasanova