OSCE CHAIRMAN-IN-OFFICE SEES THE RESOLUTION OF KARABAKH ISSUE …

By Agavni Haroutiunian.

Azat Artsakh Daily, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
07-06-2007

Nothing will be discussed without the affirmation of the right of NKR
self-determination according to Vardan Oskanian After the meeting
with OSCE Chairman-in-office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
Kingdom of Spain Miguel Angel Moratinos RA Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanian informed in a joint press conference that it was the first
visit of a Foreign Minister of Spain to Armenia. "This visit has a
double-sided meaning, but, of course, the visit is mainly concentrated
on OSCE issues and especially Nagorno Karabakh issue. We have a little
discussion of development of bilateral relations, also OSCE issues –
from armament to OSCE amendments and the adoption of OSCE charter",
mentioned Vardan Oskanian. The third issue was the issue of Nagorno
Karabakh. According to Oskanian they both cherished hopes for the
compromises in the next meeting (the meeting of the Presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan in St Petersburg), which would contribute
to the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. According to OSCE
Chairman-in-office Miguel Angel Moratinos they might speak of a
progress only after Kocharian-Aliyev meeting in St Petersburg. "Both
sides must take decisive steps in order to have results in the
negotiation process. We think that in the next OSCE session it will be
possible to speak of positive results in the settlement of Karabakh
Conflict, where the participation of OSCE Minsk group is essential",
mentioned the Foreign Minister of Spain.

OSCE Chairman-in-Office announced that there were sufficient bases
to record a progress during the meeting of the Presidents of Armenia
and Azerbaijan on June 9 in St Petersburg. "We will do everything to
find a way of fast resolution", assured Miguel Angel Moratinos. He had
also announced of OSCE readiness during his visit to Baku. RA Foreign
Minister emphasized in his turn that each meeting of the Presidents
aroused new expectations. "It’s difficult to say how probable is
to record serious progress, but there are definite bases for the
Presidents to make decisions. If there is an agreement, there will
also be a progress, if not, we must continue the collaborations on
presidential level". To the question of a Spanish reporter Oskanian
presented the attitude of Armenia to Karabakh issue. "It’s not
possible to speak of other issues or have agreements without the
affirmation of the right of self-determination of Karabakh, without
its clarification and recording in further document. We must not
forget that this conflict starts because of the self-determination
issue of Karabakh. It’s an issue of Karabakh self-determination;
the other issues, that arose, are the results of the steps taken
by Azerbaijan. We must concentrate on the main issue: the status
of Nagorno Karabakh. This issue may be solved only by recognition
and self-determination of Karabakh people. After it the rest of the
issues will find their resolution. According to Azerbaijani media
OSCE Chairman-in-Office Miguel Angel Moratinos had announced that
it was a favorable moment for the settlement of Karabakh conflict
and both sides were never so close to agreement. "Azg" daily asked
the OSCE Chairman-in-office to clear up what "to be so close" and
"what the sides were really close to" meant. Moratinos insisted
on being optimist. "We must encourage both sides by optimism, and
must not make predictions without bases". Moratinos thinks that the
most important thing is to encourage both sides, in order to have a
resolution and to better the state of NKR citizens. "The settlement of
Karabakh conflict must be reached in hope, optimism and compromise. And
for this we need the political will of both sides", mentioned OSCE
Chairman-in-office. The announcement that he had done in Baku that
"both sides were close to the settlement of the conflict" he also
repeated in Yerevan, clearing up that he saw optimism and political
will from both sides. "There are positive and negative moments in the
processes of resolution of conflicts, but dialogue will contribute to
affirm the attitudes and good aims of the sides, and the third sides
will help to fasten the settlement of conflict. The aim of OSCE is to
contribute to the resolution of issues", mentioned Moratinos. The OSCE
Chairman-in-office hoped that the presidential elections of Armenia
would be as democratic as the parliamentary elections. Moratinos
also met RA President and Prime Minister, and had a meeting with the
President of NKR Arkadi Ghukasian.