S/PV.3525 Security Council

I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from the representative of Azerbaijan in which he requests to be invited to participate in the discussion of the item on the Council’s agenda. In conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite that representative to participate in the discussion without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure. There being no objection, it is so decided.

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. I should like to draw the attention of the members of the Council to documents S/1995/249 and S/1995/321, which contain the texts of letters dated 30 March and 20 April 1995 from the Permanent Representatives of the Russian Federation and Sweden to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council. Following consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: “The Security Council has considered the reports S/1995/249 and S/1995/321 of the Co-Chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Conference on Nagorny Karabakh presented in accordance with paragraph 8 of its resolution 884 (1993). It expresses its satisfaction that the cease-fire in the region agreed upon on 12 May 1994 through the mediation of the Russian Federation in cooperation with the OSCE Minsk Group has been holding for almost a year. “At the same time, the Council reiterates the concern it has previously expressed at the conflict in and around the Nagorny Karabakh region of the “The Council reaffirms all its relevant resolutions, inter alia on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States in the region. It also reaffirms the inviolability of international borders and the inadmissibility of the use of force for the acquisition of territory. “The Council reiterates its full support for the efforts of the Co-Chairmen of the Minsk Conference to assist in conducting speedy negotiations for the conclusion of a political agreement on the cessation of the armed conflict, the implementation of which will eliminate major consequences of the conflict for all parties, inter alia ensuring withdrawal of forces, and permit the convening of the Minsk Conference. “The Council stresses that the parties to the conflict themselves bear the main responsibility for reaching a peaceful settlement. It stresses the urgency of concluding a political agreement on the cessation of the armed conflict on the basis of the relevant principles of the Charter of the United Nations and of the OSCE. It strongly urges those parties to constructively conduct negotiations without preconditions or procedural obstacles and to refrain from any actions that may undermine the peace process. It emphasizes that the achievement of such an agreement is a prerequisite for the deployment of a multinational OSCE peace-keeping force. “The Council welcomes the decision of the Budapest summit of the CSCE of 6 December 1994 on the Intensification of CSCE action in relation to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict' (S/1995/249, Appendix). It confirms its readiness to provide continuing political support, inter alia through an appropriate resolution regarding the possible deployment of a multinational OSCE peace-keeping force following agreement among the parties for cessation of the armed conflict. The United Nations also stands ready to provide technical advice and expertise. “The Council reiterates its request that the Secretary-General, the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE and the Co-Chairmen of the OSCE Minsk “The Council will keep the matter under consideration.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/1995/21. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on the agenda.