AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Feb 3 2005

PACE resolution sparks differing reactions

The approval of Atkinson’s report on Upper Garabagh by the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has drawn
differing opinions from the parties interested in settling the
conflict. President

Ilham Aliyev gave a positive assessment of the PACE resolution on
Upper Garabagh, regarding it as a victory of Azerbaijan’s diplomacy.
The opposition also welcomed the document in general.
Yuri Merzlyakov, Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group (MG), told
Radio Liberty that he disagrees with a provision of the resolution
criticizing the lack of activity on the part of the MG.
“They call on us to step up activity, although we are often more
active than the parties to the conflict. However, we are not
responsible for resolving the problem instead of the conflicting
sides”.

The PACE resolution also says that if the OSCE MG-mediated talks are
unsuccessful, Azerbaijan and Armenia may take the matter to the
International Court of Justice. Merzlyakov pointed out that this
action would probably be avoided as both countries are aware that the
issue may be interpreted differently by the court. “Therefore, the
conflict should be resolved not through legal but political means,”
he said.
The Russian co-chair continued that the problem will not be resolved
this year and only a certain amount of progress is likely to be
achieved.
“The parties are interested in resolving the problem, but no
agreements have been reached thus far.”
Merzlyakov also expressed some unpalatable views for Azerbaijan. “I
believe that Upper Garabagh is a party to the conflict, as the
ceasefire, concluded by Azerbaijan and Armenia in 1994, along with
the two countries, was signed by the ‘defense minister’ of Upper
Garabagh.”
The United States has also criticized the reproach voiced against the
OSCE MG co-chairs.
The US ambassador to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish said that the OSCE MG
has carried out extensive work this year.
“Several meetings were held between the Azerbaijani and Armenian
presidents, as well as the two countries’ foreign ministers,
illustrating the efficiency of the OSCE MG activity”, he said.
Touching upon the passed PACE resolution on Garabagh, the ambassador
commented that in his opinion it is of a “declarative” nature.
In reply to a question as to whether the US will continue to provide
aid to Armenia, which was recognized as the aggressor by PACE,
Harnish said that Washington has always pursued a consistent policy.
“From this standpoint, the aid being provided is aimed at achieving
peace in the region.”
“We have not and will not recognize the self-proclaimed Upper
Garabagh republic. The US recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity. We welcome the attempts by the parties to settle the
conflict in peace and are witnessing progress in this area.”
The ambassador stated that Russia is playing both a negative and a
positive role with regards to the resolution of the Upper Garabagh
conflict, along with many other conflicts in the former Soviet Union.
Russia’s role in the Garabagh conflict is undeniable, he said.
Harnish added that the conflict settlement is not dependent only on
the US and Russia.
“The Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents need to step up efforts in
this area”, he said.
The French co-chair of the OSCE MG, Bernard Fassier, said that the
PACE resolution on Garabagh states the stance of this organization,
which is one of the beacons of democracy in Europe. Fassier said that
other international organizations should state their position on the
Garabagh conflict as well.
The co-chair added that statements implying that the OSCE Minsk Group
is not engaged in any serious work are erroneous.

Conflicting views
Political forces in Armenia have issued conflicting opinions on the
issue.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry, via its spokesman, Hamlet Kasparian,
said that the PACE rapporteur David Atkinson’s report on the Garabagh
conflict, although it included some positive parts, was generally
incomplete.
Kasparian said the PACE resolution covers the results of the conflict
but not the reasons behind it.
“Yerevan believes that changes were made to the resolution in a
biased manner. On the initiative of the Turkish representative at the
PACE Political Committee, one of Armenia’s proposals, which was
earlier agreed upon with Atkinson, was not approved. The resolution
is not mandatory but advisory and declarative,” Kasparian said. He
said that peace talks will continue within the OSCE Minsk Group and
the positive and negative provisions of the resolution are unlikely
to affect the negotiating process.
Chairman of the Armenian parliament commission on foreign relations,
Armen Rustamian said the PACE resolution includes all the ‘dangerous’
provisions that Azerbaijan can take advantage of in the future.
“The resolution contains such terms as ‘occupied territories’ and
‘separatists’, and Azerbaijan will certainly take the opportunity of
using them against Armenia.”
Rustamian expressed confidence that Azerbaijan will start imposing an
ultimatum not only on Armenia, but also on the international
community soon, as adopting the mentioned resolution gives Azerbaijan
a legal right to retrieve its territories.
Head of the Armenian delegation at PACE, Tigran Tarasian, stated that
Armenia is satisfied with the PACE resolution. He viewed favourably
the fact that certain parliamentary members brought up the issue of
self-determination of Upper Garabagh.
Nonetheless, Armenian opposition termed the document as an absolute
diplomatic defeat of Yerevan, and essentially as an ultimatum put
forth to Armenia by the international community.