PanArmenian News
March 18 2005

OSCE MINSK GROUP FACT-FINDING MISSION PRESENTED ITS REPORT TO OSCE
PERMANENT COUNCIL

18.03.2005 03:58

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The OSCE Minsk Group Fact-Finding Mission has
officially presented its report on the settling the territories
adjacent to Nagorno Karabakh to the OSCE Permanent Council, IA Regnum
reports. On this occasion the Armenian Foreign Ministry issued a
statement, which says in part, `Armenia appreciates the diligent,
hard work of the Minsk Group co-chairs and the members of the
Mission. We believe that their detailed, first-hand, objective report
clearly describes the situation on the ground in the region. Armenia
is pleased that it was able to facilitate the mission. Armenia also
wishes to thank the authorities of Nagorno Karabakh for their
logistical and practical contributions to the success of the Mission.
Armenia believes that the most important accomplishment of the Fact
Finding Mission Report is that it has laid to rest Azerbaijan’s
charges.’ The Fact Finding Mission Report affirms the following: a.
`Overall settlement is quite limited.’ `There is no clear organized
resettlement, no non-voluntary resettlement, no recruitment.’ b. The
co-chairs say, `The mission did not determine that such settlement
has resulted from a deliberate policy by the government of Armenia.’
The Report says, `The Fact-Finding Mission has seen no evidence of
direct involvement by the authorities of Armenia in the territories.’
c. Those settlers who have found refuge in these territories are
primarily from regions of Azerbaijan: `The Fact-Finding Mission has
concluded that the overwhelming majority of settlers are displaced
persons from various parts of Azerbaijan, notably, from Shahumian and
Getashen – now under Azerbaijani control.’ In light of these
conclusions, we note that the total number of settlers is
insignificant given that there are over 400,000 Armenian refugees as
a result of the conflict. Without those living in Lachin, then the
total number of settlers is indeed negligible. The co-chairs have
noted that `Lachin has been treated as a separate case in previous
negotiations.’ This is because Lachin is Nagorno Karabakh’s
humanitarian and security corridor. Without it, Nagorno Karabakh
would remain an isolated enclave. It is because of Lachin’s political
and geographic reality and security dimension, that it is viewed
differently in the negotiation process. Furthermore, the co-chairs
state: `…most settlers interviewed by the Fact Finding Mission
expressed a desire to return to the areas from which they fled…’
However, their old homes, in areas which were formerly
Armenian-populated, are today under Azerbaijani control, and their
homes have been appropriated by Azerbaijanis. According to the United
Nations Economic and Social Council Committee on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights `The Committee is concerned about the illegal
occupation by refugees and internally displaced persons of properties
belonging to Armenians and other ethnic minorities.’ Armenia, at the
request of the authorities of Nagorno Karabakh, has requested that
the OSCE Permanent Council mandate a fact-finding mission for a
similarly transparent assessment of those regions which were formerly
largely-Armenian populated, and are today under Azerbaijan’s control:
the Northern Martakert and Eastern Martuni regions of Nagorno
Karabakh, and Shahumian. This process of the Fact Finding Mission
began because Azerbaijan claimed there was intentional, massive,
coordinated settlement policy, which would harm the negotiation
process. Armenia agreed to facilitate a fact-finding mission and
Azerbaijan agreed in return not to take any action on its UN
resolution and suspend the initiative.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress