HAMLET GASPARIAN, FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON, SKEPTICAL
ABOUT OPINION THAT RECENT STATEMENT OF OSCE MG CO-CHAIRS REACHING DESIRABLE RESULT

YEREVAN, APRIL 18. ARMINFO. The Armenian Foreign Ministry is
skeptical about the opinion that the recent statement of OSCE Minsk
Group Co-Chairs on settlement of Karabakh conflict is reaching the
desirable result. Hamlet Gasparian, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson,
commenting on this statement to Mass Media states: “Since it is only
the Azerbaijanis who make militaristic statements and warmongering
calls, it is obvious that the statement applies to them. However,
if the intended purpose of this statement is to try to put an end to
the ceasefire violations, we don’t believe that will happen unless
the violators are not being held accountable.”

He says that Armenia, in its letter to the co-chair countries foreign
ministers, and to the OSCE CiO, explained that the fundamental reason
for the recurrence of these abuses is that Azerbaijan is assured of
impunity. They know that even when such encroachments are obvious
and visible, as they are now, and Azerbaijan has clearly violated the
ceasefire and advanced, no one criticizes or condemns their actions
by name. As a result, they can breach the ceasefire again and again.
“That is what has happened here. If in the past, shots were heard and
it was not always evident who fired first, today, it is obvious that
the Azerbaijanis have advanced their positions, and have clearly,
visibly altered the status quo. That is why we are convinced that
such a universal call for abiding by the terms of the ceasefire won’t
help. Instead, we would expect that the co-chairs and others interested
in ensuring stability in this region, take a tougher stance.”

To note recently OSCE MG Co-Chairs expressed concern over the
growing tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan, pointing out that
such violations leaded to human losses and endangered the cease-fire
agreement.