Karabakh Conflict has Potential to Escalate: Steinmeier

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has the potential to escalate,  Frank-Walter Steinmeier, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs,  said today.

Steinmeier will visit Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia starting from June 29. He will pay the visits as part of Germany’s OSCE Chairmanship, and the visits are aimed at facilitating the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict’s settlement as well, said German Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

“The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has the potential to escalate. During Germany’s OSCE Chairmanship we bear responsibility for reducing this danger as much as possible by strengthening the ceasefire, by taking confidence-building measures and by ensuring the imminent start of the negotiations,” Steinmeier told reporters in Berlin prior to his visit to the South Caucasus.

In his words the same refers to territorial conflict of Georgia.

Steinmeier will participate in OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Annual Session to be held in Tbilisi. By that Steinmeier will have his investment in strengthening parliamentary system within OSCE.

Visit to Azerbaijan is scheduled on June 30.