The European Union expresses its full support for the current initiatives under the auspices of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group to relaunch the negotiation process so as to put an end to the armed clashes and restore peace in the region. In that regard, it welcomes the discussions taking place in Geneva today (29 October), which are part of a series of intensive diplomatic contacts conducted at the highest level by the Heads of State and Foreign Ministers of the Minsk Group Co-Chair countries.
The European Union exhorts the parties to engage in these negotiations in good faith and without preconditions, and enjoins them to reach agreement on all of the indispensable steps for a comprehensive, peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict according to the already accepted basic principles and to draw up together a timetable for their implementation.
The European Union recalls that, as agreed by the parties, the immediate entry into force of a humanitarian ceasefire is a priority. Reiterating its previous appeals, it urges the parties to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross guaranteed safe and unhindered access to the combat zone.
The European Union reiterates its full support for the work of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group in their search for a negotiated political solution to the conflict. It advocates the organization of additional briefings between the Co-Chairs and the Personal Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office and expresses its willingness to further support these efforts. For its part, it remains fully committed to efforts to establish lasting peace in the region.
The candidate countries the Republic of North Macedonia* , Montenegro* , Serbia* and Albania* , the European Free Trade Association countries and members of the European Economic Area Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, as well as the Republic of Moldova, Andorra and San Marino, align themselves with this statement.
*The Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilization and Association Process.