OSCE MG co-chairs statement  taken  positive  in Stepanakert.  

ArmInfo. The statement of OSCE MG group, published today and made based on the results of meetings with Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, is positive  in common, David Babayan, the press secretary to Narogno Karabakh  President shared his opinion. 

 "The part of the statement reading that they  do not recognize  Nagorno Karabakh as an independent state, conforms to reality. But I  would like to mention that our people has set the  political status  of Nagorno Karabakh  on  September 2, 1991. Today we conduct   referendum  not to change our status but to implement constitutional  reforms," Babayan mentioned during his conversation with ArmInfo  reporter. At the same time he appreciated the fact that co-chairs   recognized the referendum  as a public life regulating tool.  According to him, that is an important fact. 

Babayan referred also to mediators statement regarding the handover  of Azerbaijani diversant's body handover. "Of course that's good that  they appreciate this step of Armenia, but,at the same time, they  don't say a word regarding the fact that Azerbaijan has arrested a   guiltless man (meaning Alexander Lapshin). It is important to react  more addressed and strict to such steps of Azerbaijan," the NKR  President's Press Secretary mentioned. 

The Co-Chairs discussed with the Ministers the current situation  along the Line of Contact and the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. The  Co-Chairs reiterated that there is no alternative to a peaceful  solution to the conflict and that war is not an option, and called  upon the sides to exercise restraint on the terrain as well as in  their public communications and to prepare their population for peace  and not for war. The Co- Chairs also urged the Sides to adhere  strictly to the 1994/95 ceasefire agreements that constitute the  foundation of the cessation of hostilities. 

The Co-Chairs recalled the May 2011 joint statements of their  Presidents in Deauville emphasizing that the use of force would only  bring more suffering and devastation and would be condemned by the  international community. The Co-Chairs shared their views with the  Sides on the steps which should be taken toward implementing  decisions from the 2016 Summits in Vienna and St. Petersburg aimed at  stabilizing the situation in the conflict zone. The Co-Chairs  stressed to the Ministers the need to demonstrate greater flexibility  and to resume comprehensive negotiations on reaching a lasting  settlement as soon as possible. 

The Co-Chairs recognized that the Armenian authorities' recent  decision to return the body of an Azerbaijani serviceman was a  helpful humanitarian gesture. The two Ministers reiterated their  commitment to strictly observe their international humanitarian  obligations including those of the Astrakhan Declaration of October  2010 issued by the Presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the Russian  Federation.