CRISIS DAYS IN UN
By Gayane Movsisian

Yerkir.am
September 08, 2006

The Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations over Karabakh have stalled
in a critical stage. Yerevan has not yet made a decision over a
meeting of foreign ministers that mediators propose to hold in Paris
or London. But such meeting may never take place if Azerbaijan’s
initiative to shift the issue to the United States take a turn that
might harm Armenia.

In July, Azerbaijan sent a letter to the UN with accusations that
Armenian-controlled territories were subjected to arson. Later, a draft
resolution was sent which this time dealt not only with alleged arsons;
the draft called the UN to reaffirm Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

More recently, a joint request by the member states of GUAM (Georgia,
Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova) asked the UN General Assembly to include
in its agenda an issue dealing with the "frozen conflicts on the
territory of GUAM states.

" The issue, according to the UN web site, has been included on the
preliminary agenda.

This has encouraged Baku make self-confident statements. "The issue may
even be included on the agenda without a vote," Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister Elmar Mamediarov said. He also added that OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs are working with Armenia and UN secretary to work out the
text of the draft resolution.

Vladimir Karapetian, the acting press secretary of the Armenian
Foreign Ministry, said that the negotiations are almost over and that
the draft may be presented to the UN on September 7. We believe the
language of the draft would fit us, Karapetian added.

Recently, Foreign Minister Oskanian said he thought the UN would
not make new steps taking into account that negotiations have been
going on under the OSCE auspice. The discussion of the issue in the
UN makes no sense but it may be included in the agenda, Oskanian said.

Minister Oskanian will represent Armenia at the General Assembly and
is scheduled to make a speech on September 25. He is also expected
to meet with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, particularly with
Mathew Bryza. The Azeri minister is also scheduled to meet with the
mediators. A meeting between Oskanian and Mamediarov has not been
scheduled yet.