UN reliable organization to resolve protracting conflicts: Ban Ki-Moon

There are some protracted conflicts in the region of OSCE, and those who live in such conditions, are waiting for the problem's solution, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said Wednesday, addressing the OSCE summit in Astana.

He recalled that UN has declared 2010 a year of women and children.

"And we can resolve these issues [protracted conflicts], sorting out the problems of children and women. Women are the path to peace," he stressed.

In an interview with Radio Free Europe prior to the summit, the secretary general mentioned: "I reckon on the continued involvement and commitment of the OSCE Minsk Group. I hope that the sides remain at the table to discuss all these issues, and I understand that recent discussions have gained some momentum. I, again, hope that Azerbaijan and Armenia will agree to the basic principles of peaceful resolution of this issue as soon as possible.

At the same time, I would urge that the parties concerned - Armenia and Azerbaijan - would refrain from making any provocative actions along the Line of Contact and withdraw the snipers who are deployed along the Line of Contact. This will help, not only for those two parties, but also other groups who are working hard to facilitate these negotiations in a peaceful manner."