Azernews.Az

VILNIUS – The foreign minister of Lithuania, which will take over the OSCE chairmanship in the coming days, has cited a number of alarming signals around the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh.

Audronius Azubalis told the OSCE Magazine that the current situation has raised concerns for several reasons, but he did not elaborate. He noted that the mediating OSCE Minsk Group’s co-chairs should expedite talks aiming to find a political solution of the long-standing dispute.

The Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 due to Armenia’s territorial claims. A lengthy war was followed by the signing of a precarious cease-fire in 1994. About 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory, including Nagorno Karabakh and seven adjacent regions, is under the occupation of the Armenian armed forces. Peace talks have been largely fruitless so far.

Regarding the stance Lithuania will take on protracted conflicts during its OSCE chairmanship, Azubalis said every country co-chairing the organization has sought to offer its solutions to such disputes.

"The task of the acting OSCE chair is to back up its words with work. Making nice speeches is not enough. I would like for the OSCE to play a more active role in the South Caucasus."