THE MINIMUM PURPOSE OF THE OSCE MG VISIT IS ACHIEVED
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.05.2007 GMT+04:00
The OSCE Co-Chairs little by little start to realize that the problem
of the Armenian refugees is a serious factor, which, in case of
being ignored, may bring the issue of the conflict regulation to a
deadlock condition.
The main purpose of the visit of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict regulation in fact is achieved;
the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed upon the meeting
in Saint-Petersburg on June 9. In all other respects, the visit was
like all the others, and as always the information disseminated by
the Azeri Press about the visit was quite diametric to what Bernard
Fasie and Yuri Merzlyakov said in Yerevan.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In this regard it is worth mentioning Matthew
Bryza’s bewilderment for the announcements he heard on TV in Baku,
which were made on his own behalf. Basically, the announcements made
by the Co-Chairs, which are disseminated by the Azeri Press must be
regarded rather carefully. Perhaps this was why the Russian mediator
Yuri Merzlyakov refused to make any comment to the Azeri journalists.
According to Bernard Fasie the meetings were rather helpful. "We
are building bases for negotiation, and in Yerevan we built one. We
believe that we will be able to build some more in Baku as well,"
he said in Baku.
Most probably the main stress will be laid on the issue of the
refugees. This is what Azerbaijan very often likes to speak about
in such a way, as if there are no Armenian refugees. According to
Arman Melikyan; the advisor of the Nagorno-Karabakh President, the
OSCE Co-Chairs little by little start to realize that the problem of
the Armenian refugees is a serious factor, which, in case of being
ignored, may bring the issue of the conflict regulation to a deadlock
condition. "If the Armenian refugees agree to return to Azerbaijan,
it will be possible to speak about returning the Azerbaijanis, if
not – it is necessary to think about a place where those people will
live and where their new motherland will be. From this point of view
the liberated territories are the most appropriate place," announced
Arman Melikyan. But Azerbaijan thinks otherwise. The survey carried
out by Day.az showed that 34% of the citizens of Azerbaijan are for
returning the Armenians to Azerbaijan after the Nagorno-Karabakh
Conflict regulation, 54% think that it is not possible, and 12% of
the population didn’t answer. 1122 people participated in the survey.
Meanwhile the Co-Chairs in Yerevan announced that they do not
differentiate the refugees according to their nationality. "When
saying that the refugees and the displaced persons must return to
the place of permanent residence, both Armenians and Azeri people
are meant," announced OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Bernard Fasie
during a press-conference in Yerevan. He mentioned that the OSCE
Minsk Group has more than once spoken about returning the refugees,
under one condition only – if the attitude of negativism between
the two countries is overcome. "I have already mentioned that one
never starts building a house from the roof. The same concerns the
refugees; where should they be returned, under what conditions and on
what bases? Everything must be carefully worked out," underlined Fasie.
Another important matter that is always being discussed during the
OSCE MG visits is the issue of the participation of Nagorno-Karabakh
in the negotiation process. Every time the mediators mention that
the participation of the Nagorno-Karabakh representative in the
negotiation process is essential, yet the ice doesn’t break, and the
announcements again remain hanging in the air. Arman Melikyan thinks
that the Co-Chairs have their share of fault in the fact that the
Armenian party isn’t involved in the negotiation process.
In his turn the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian
Affairs announced in the US Congress that Russia and the United
States work on achieving a peaceful method of the regulation of
the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, which will lead to stabilization and
security in South Caucasus. "The regulation of the Karabakh Conflict
depends on Azerbaijan and Armenia and the issue is of common interest
of both countries. Together with the OSCE Co-Chairs I was in the
region in spring to grant the Presidents of both countries the main
principles of the peaceful way of regulation of the Conflict. These
are considered to be the key principles in the conflict resolution,"
announced the American diplomat.