OSCE MONITORING GROUP CONTENT WITH CONDITIONS THEY WORK IN

Azg/arm
01 Feb 05

On January 30, Yuri Merzlyakov, Steven Mann and Bernard Fassier,
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk group, arrived in Stepanakert with the
members of the monitoring mission. Arman Melikian, NKR deputy foreign
minister, received them and represented the position of the republic’s
authorities to the territories under the control of NKR, emphasizing
that the monitoring of the situation will help the international
community have an objective view of the refugees’life. He expressed
readiness to cooperate with the OSCE mission and said that all the
required conditions will be created for their work and stay. The
monitoring mission will be allowed to visit each region they wish. The
sides discussedissues concerning the activities of the monitoring
group in NKR in the course of the reception at the NKR Foreign
Ministry.

Arkady Ghukasian received the members of the monitoring group later,
on the same day. Arkady Ghukasian emphasized the importance of the
OSCE initiativeand said that formerly Stepanakert applied to the Minsk
group suggesting to carry out such a monitoring to refute all the
unfair charges brought by Azerbaijan. Arkady Ghukasian informed the
members of the monitoring mission that the NKR authorities conduct no
state policy of inhabiting in the regions under monitoring. Mainly the
Armenians that had to leave their homes in Azerbaijan live there and
the state only secures elementary conditions for the life of these
people there.

Arkady Ghukasian expressed readiness to support all the activities of
the monitoring mission. At the same time, Mr. Ghukasian suggested them
to visitalso the regions of Nagorno Karabakh that are currently
occupied by the Azeri army to have a clear view of the situation in
the region.

Emily Haber, head of the monitoring group, thanked NKR authorities for
creating all the required conditions for effective work and stated
that the activities of the mission will last 10 days.

After these two meetings, Yuri Merzlyakov and Emily Haber held a
briefing. Yuri Merzlyakov, said, in particular, that it is no
ordinary visit to the region for the co-chairs. Briefly touching upon
the aim of their visit, Yuri Merzlyakov represented Emily Haber.

“We know about very interesting details. I am sure that these details
will help evaluate the situation. This mission is a technical one, we
have to check the facts and represent the relevant report to the Minsk
group co-chairs,” Mrs. Haber said.

By Kim Gabrielian in Stepanakert