OSCE envoy calls on Azerbaijan, Armenia for “responsibility” over Karabakh

ANS TV, Baku
10 May 05

[Presenter] The permanent representative of Belgium in the OSCE,
Bertrand de Crombrugghe, has called on Azerbaijan and Armenia to show
responsibility.

[Correspondent] The Belgian embassy in the OSCE will mediate between
the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents at a meeting on [the sidelines
of] the second summit of the Council of Europe member states in Warsaw
on 15-16 May, Bertrand de Crombrugghe has said. He is visiting Armenia
and Azerbaijan to familiarize himself with the two countries ahead of
the summit.

[Bertrand de Crombrugghe, shown speaking to reporters in English with
Azeri voice-over] Belgium will act as an honest broker. It will find
out what the sides think about the issue in detail and will make its
own position public. In general, the OSCE is doing its best to
encourage dialogue and talks. I think both sides should take
responsibility.

[Correspondent] Bertrand de Crombrugghe has started his visit to our
country from Qazax District. First of all, he wanted to find out about
the current situation on the border with Armenia.

The Armenian army has been firing on the Azerbaijani villages
bordering Armenia, in particular on the village of Mazam, almost every
day over the past few months, the Azerbaijani side told the OSCE
representative. They said local residents had built fortifications
made of bags of sand along a road that is clearly seen from Armenian
positions.

They said that seven villages in Qazax District have been under
Armenian occupation for 15 years now, 161 local residents have been
brutally killed and 120 tortured by Armenians.

Bertrand de Crombrugghe made an appeal to both sides. He asked the
sides to use pastures and irrigation channels along the border areas.

[Bertrand de Crombrugghe] The OSCE is acting as an instructor in the
political, economical and human rights spheres. It is trying to bring
changes to these spheres. But the sides should resolve the conflict
themselves.

[Correspondent] Bertrand de Crombrugghe also commented on the truce
violations.

[Bertrand de Crombrugghe] We are aware that the cease-fire is being
broken. Our special representative Andrzej Kasprzyk is collecting
information about this to make sure that both sides accept these
reports. This is a very important process. [Regular] monitoring is
held [on the contact line] and reports are being prepared. But you
have to understand that the OSCE is not an arbiter and its task is to
monitor the process of resolving the conflict.

[Passage omitted: Bertrand de Crombrugghe also met NGO representatives
in Qazax District]