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Kazakhstan, as an OSCE Chairman-in-Office, will actively participate in the negotiation process under the auspices of the Minsk Group, Kanat Saudabayev, Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, the future OSCE Chairman-in-Office in 2010, said in an exclusive interview.
"We proceed from the fact that the development and deepening of the dialogue are the only basis for achieving significant results in the solutions to conflicts," he said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
In 2010, Kazakhstan will chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), replacing Greece.
According to Saudabayev, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has always been on the focus of the OSCE, in particular the Minsk Group.
In general, according to him, Kazakhstan intends to contribute to the process of finding solutions to conflicts in the OSCE space.
"We have carefully studied the situation in conflict zones, and based on consultations with the OSCE and the participating countries, Kazakhstan intends to contribute to the process of finding solutions to the conflicts," said the Minister.
According to the Minister, for this purpose, one of the most experienced diplomats of Kazakhstan, ambassador Bulat Nurgaliyev was appointed to the post of personal representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office on the protracted conflicts.
According to the future OSCE Chairman-in-Office, the peoples living in conflict zones deserve a peaceful and better future, and Kazakhstan intends to do everything in its power to help them achieve this.
"Our policy will be aimed at supporting the existing formats of negotiations, increasing the role of the OSCE in conflict prevention and regulation of post-conflict situations within the international law and basic principles of the organization," said Saudabayev.
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