Greece is launching peace initiative regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias is planning an imminent visit to Armenia’s capital Yerevan aiming to defuse the escalating tensions. At the same time, Athens warns Turkey to refrain from intervention.
The Greek Foreign Ministry has wrote to the Albanian Presidency of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), requesting the extraordinary convening of the Permanent Council of the Organization for the immediate discussion of the issue.
“The Greek initiative aims to hold a debate within the OSCE with the participation of the two stakeholders and to consider every possible way to de-escalate the crisis. The goal remains the urgent resumption of negotiations within the Minsk Group on the peaceful settlement of the dispute,” the Foreign Ministry said in a press release.
Greece is ready to contribute to the efforts for the immediate de-escalation of the crisis, the statement stressed adding that Dendias has also spoken with his Armenian counterpart Zohrab Mnatsakanyan.
“The close ties of friendship between Greece and Armenia were reaffirmed during the phone conversation,” the Ministry said. adding that a video-conference with Mnatsakanyan is scheduled on Tuesday, October 1.
“The escalation of tensions in Nagorno-Karabakh has a serious impact on regional stability,” Dendias has told to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
“Greece is convinced that the crisis can only be resolved through peaceful means, through negotiations and not through arms,” the Greek Ministry said.
At the same time it called on Turkey to refrain form intervening in the conflict.
“Greece disapproves any third party intervention that incites tension. In this context, Turkey must refrain from actions and statements that move in this direction,” the statement underlined..
