NATO backs Minsk process in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement: James Appathurai

NATO official has said the organization supports the Minsk process over the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as the Alliance does not take part at the negotiations.

James Appathurai, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the South Caucasus and Central Asia said NATO does not have a role in the peace process for the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“I do not think a distinct NATO role would help the process ahead, rather to the contrary. NATO supports the Minsk process,” Appathurai told Trend.

He added that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict does receive high-level international attention, most recently when President Francois Hollande of France hosted talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

On the initiative of President Hollande, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan held a meeting on October 27 with the participation of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen to discuss the settlement process of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Appathurai further said the Minsk Group is co-chaired by the U.S, France and the Russian Federation and their engagement has been continuous over two decades.