Note to Correspondents: Nagorno-Karabakh
Notes to correspondents
The Spokesman was asked again about the Secretary-General’s reaction to the agreement on the cessation of hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone signed earlier this week. The following statement is attributable to the Spokesman:
The Secretary-General welcomes and is relieved by the agreement on a cessation of hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone announced in the 9 November joint statement of President of Azerbaijan, the Prime Minister of Armenia, and the President of the Russian Federation. He is grateful to the Russian Federation for its effort is bringing about this agreement.
The Secretary-General has consistently called for a ceasefire and emphasized the importance of saving lives and protecting civilians. He hopes that this will now be achieved, consistent also with the previous important efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.
The Secretary-General reiterates the UN’s principled position that a lasting peace for the people of the region can only be achieved through a negotiated peaceful settlement.
Stéphane Dujarric (Mr.) Spokesman for the Secretary-General