OSCE Establishes Minsk Group for Karabakh Peace Process
WarEcho Team news
OSCE creates Minsk Group to mediate Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, establishing main international negotiation framework
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) established the Minsk Group at its ministerial council in Helsinki, creating the primary international framework for mediating the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Formation
The Minsk Group was tasked with:
- Organizing peace conference in Minsk
- Facilitating negotiations
- Developing peaceful resolution
- Monitoring ceasefire (when achieved)
Structure
Co-chairs (established 1997):
- Russia
- United States
- France
Members:
- Belarus, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Turkey
- Armenia and Azerbaijan as parties
Mandate
Key objectives:
- Negotiate durable ceasefire
- Determine Karabakh’s final status
- Return of occupied territories
- Security guarantees
- Return of refugees
Early Challenges
- Ongoing military operations
- Maximalist positions
- Lack of trust
- Regional power competition
- No peacekeeping force
Diplomatic Framework
Established principles:
- Territorial integrity
- Self-determination
- Non-use of force
- Return of refugees
- Security for all
Limited Success
Despite efforts:
- War continued escalating
- No Minsk conference held
- Positions hardened
- Military facts on ground
Long-term Role
The Minsk Group would:
- Remain primary mediator for 30+ years
- Achieve 1994 ceasefire
- Fail to resolve core issues
- Face criticism from all sides
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