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OSCE document, Dec 7, 2002Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe PORTO, 6-7 December 2002 Tenth Meeting of the Ministerial Council 6 and 7 December 2002 Porto Ministerial Declaration OSCE Charter on Preventing and Combating Terrorism Declaration on Trafficking in Human Beings Statements by the Ministerial Council Decisions of the Porto Ministerial Council Meeting Reports to the Porto Ministerial Council Meeting Porto 2002 STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTERIAL COUNCIL 1. We remain deeply concerned at the failure to achieve a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict despite the intensified dialogue between the parties and the active support of the Minsk Group Co-Chairmen. We reaffirm that the prompt resolution of this protracted conflict will contribute to lasting peace, security, stability and co-operation in the South Caucasus region. 2. We reiterate the importance of continuing the peace dialogue and call upon the sides to continue their efforts to achieve an early resolution of the conflict based on norms and principles of international law. We also encourage the parties to explore further measures that would enhance mutual confidence and trust. 3. We welcome the commitment of the parties to the ceasefire and to achieving a peaceful and comprehensive settlement. We welcome in particular the continued meetings of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan and of their Special Representatives. We encourage the parties to continue their efforts, with the active support of the Co-Chairmen, aimed at reaching a just and enduring settlement. Attachment 3 to Statements INTERPRETATIVE STATEMENT UNDER PARAGRAPH 79 (CHAPTER 6) OF THE FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE HELSINKI CONSULTATIONS By the Delegation of Azerbaijan: “With regard to the just adopted decision of the 10th meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council, I would like to make an interpretative statement in accordance with paragraph 79, Chapter 6 of the Final Recommendations of the Helsinki Consultations. The Republic of Azerbaijan has joined the consensus over the statement on the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, proceeding from the following principles of the OSCE according to which: ‘The participating States will respect the territorial integrity of each of the participating States. Accordingly, they will refrain from any action inconsistent with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations against the territorial integrity, political independence or the unity of any participating State, and in particular from any such action constituting a threat or use of force. The participating States will likewise refrain from making each other’s territory the object of military occupation or other direct or indirect measures of force in contravention of international law, or the object of acquisition by means of such measures or the threat of them. No such occupation or acquisition will be recognized as legal’. The Republic of Azerbaijan would also like to stress that the principle of the right of peoples to self-determination shall be exercised in conformity with the following principle of the Helsinki Final Act: ‘The participating States will respect the equal rights of peoples and their right to selfdetermination, acting at all times in conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and with the relevant norms of international law, including those relating to territorial integrity of states’. Further on, the Republic of Azerbaijan states that the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan may be solved only on the basis of full respect of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, which implies: Administrative Department of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan - unequivocal recognition by Armenia of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, an inalienable part of which is the Nagorno-Karabakh region; - immediate and unconditional withdrawal of occupying Armenian forces from all territories of Azerbaijan including the Nagorno-Karabakh region; - creation of all favourable conditions for the safe return of forcibly expelled Azerbaijani population to their lands. Furthermore, the Republic of Azerbaijan states that whatever status of self-rule for the Armenian community living in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan will be elaborated, it is only possible on the basis of full respect to the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
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