“Russia is against changing the format of the OSCE Minsk Group and considers the attempts to undermine its role as counterproductive”, The Permanent Representative of Russia to OSCE, Alexander Lukashevich said at the session of the organization’s Permanent Council, the Russian media reports.

“The “troika” format, whose role is enshrined in the decisions of the OSCE and the UN Security Council, is efficient and doesn’t require modifications,” he stressed.

“We consider the attempts to undermine the role of Co-Chairs and their ongoing work as counterproductive. This can only [further] complicate the already complicated processes of normalization,” the Russian diplomat added.

“We are sure that Troika of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs is demanded in advancing a compromise solution, but the efficiency of these negotiation attempts first of all depends on the parties to the conflict themselves and on the presence of their political will, which is necessary to achieve normalization of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at a bargaining table,” Lukashevich said.

He also stressed that “in any case the use of force cannot be considered as an alternative to peaceful dialogue.”

Notably, yesterday the meeting of OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and OSCE Permanent Council devoted to the situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh have been held in Vienna.