Intermediaries call for ‘compromise’ amid frequent shootings

AzerNews
1-7 June 05

French co-chair of the mediating OSCE Minsk Group has denied Armenia’s
responsibility for frequent ceasefire breaches on the frontline. “Do
you think the ceasefire is violated only by Armenia? You are wrong”,
Bernard Fassier told a news conference on Friday following talks on
the Upper Garabagh conflict held by the MG co-chairs in Baku.

Fassier said that the persistent ceasefire violations jeopardize peace
talks and the conflicting sides should ‘prepare their countries for
compromises instead of making harsh statements’.

Armenia has violated ceasefire on a daily basis over the past few
months, which resulted in killing and wounding dozens of military
men on both sides.

Fassier said France is confident that there is extensive potential
for a peaceful conflict resolution, but ‘time is scarce and should
not be wasted’.

The co-chair mentioned that he was an officer in the French army for
25 years prior to becoming a diplomat, which played an important role
in terms of his present activity. “War is the worst way out”, he said,
emphasizing that France supports a peaceful conflict resolution.

Fassier dismissed allegations on the lack of activity by the mediators.

“The co-chairs can only provide advice and will not solve the problem
instead of the conflicting sides. Both countries believe that the
Minsk Group is to blame if nothing happens. But progress has not been
achieved so far because the sides have not been ready for this.”

Fassier said, however, that the co-chairs now see ‘the willingness
of the sides to solve the problem’.

Fassier said that the Warsaw meeting of the Azeri and Armenian
Presidents on May 15 was important, positive and constructive. The
intensifying talks were the key indication that the meeting was
successful, he said.

The co-chairs are to meet with Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanian in Yerevan early in June, Fassier said.

“We are holding these meetings to outline our work in the coming
months and weeks.”

The co-chair said that a joint meeting of the MG co-chairs with the
Azeri and Armenian ministers will be held in mid-June and the two
have already provided their consent for this.

The intermediaries will hold talks in Baku and Yerevan again in July,
and visit the conflict zone.

Fassier emphasized that the parties are not discussing a specific
document. The talks are focusing on the withdrawal of Armenian
troops from the districts around Upper Garabagh and the status of the
region. The co-chair declined to comment on whether or not the parties
have reached pivotal agreements on these issues but said that they
‘have already started working on details’.

The co-chair also said that the parties realize the need for re-opening
Armenia’s borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Fassier said that the co-chairs’ meeting with President Aliyev,
which was not originally scheduled, took place on the initiative of
the Azerbaijani President. The gist of the meeting was not disclosed.

‘Support’ The international community supports settlement of the
Upper Garabagh conflict within Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity,
Fassier said.

“No country has de-facto recognized the independence of Upper Garabagh
and it should be that way”, the French co-chair said in a meeting
with Azeri Defense Minister Safar Abiyev on Thursday.

“I have seen the occupied Azerbaijani land firsthand and became
convinced that we need to find a way out of this soon.”

Minister Abiyev said peace talks that have lasted for over 10 years
yielded no results so far. If the negotiations turn out fruitless,
Azerbaijan will be compelled ‘to resort to other means to liberate
its territories from under occupation’, he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress