As delivered by Ambassador Ian Kelly to the Permanent Council
Vienna, January 26, 2012
We welcome the joint statement in Sochi of Presidents Medvedev, Aliyev, and Sargsian regarding the ongoing efforts to reach a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The United States, as a Co-Chair of the Minsk Group, remains strongly committed to achieving a peaceful settlement of the conflict. U.S. Co-Chair Ambassador Robert Bradtke represented the United States at the Sochi meeting.
The Minsk Group Co-Chairs will continue to work with the sides on the next steps toward a settlement, as well as confidence-building measures to improve the atmosphere for negotiations and strengthen implementation of the ceasefire.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.