AzerNews
03/02/2005 11:40
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.