Touching upon the issue on protracted conflicts in the region, Ažubalis said that as OSCE Chairperson he met with Minsk Group co-chairs.

“I have also met with the Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group. I am concerned about the potential for deterioration in the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. Casualties have been occurring at an increasing rate along the Contact Line. The OSCE role in pursuing a settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict through stronger engagement by the Co-chairs of the Minsk Group will be maintained. We invite the conflict parties, and other OSCE participating States, to consider options for confidence-building measures and strengthening the OSCE monitoring activities, particularly in light of growing tensions on the ground. As Chairman I will be visiting the South Caucuses in mid-March to pursue these matters further”, he said.