OSCE MG: PRESERVATION OF THE STATUS QUO IN THE KARABAKH CONFLICT MAY SEEM LESS DIFFICULT FOR SIDES THAN MUTUAL COMPROMISES
PanARMENIAN.Net
13.07.2007 21:39 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As OSCE Secretariat Press Officer told
PanARMENIAN.Net., the three Minsk Group Co-Chairmen – Ambassador
Yury Merzlyakov of Russia, Ambassador Bernard Fassier of France and
Ambassador Matthew Bryza of the United States issued the following
statement upon today’s meeting in Vienna:
"1. We, the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group find it necessary to give
our assessment of the emerging situation in the settlement process
for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in light of the recent meeting
between the President of the Republic of Armenia R. KOCHARIAN and
the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan I. ALIYEV in St Petersburg.
2. At the Co-Chairs’ suggestion, during this meeting the Presidents
concentrated their discussion on a limited number of obstacles that
stand in the way of agreement on a set of basic principles for the
peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Unfortunately, the Presidents could not overcome these remaining
differences. Thus, the two sides are approaching 2008 – a year of
presidential elections in both Armenia and Azerbaijan, when, as past
experience shows, chances for progress will likely be overshadowed by
the electoral campaigns. Without an endorsement of the basic principles
at the presidential level, it is impossible to start drafting the
text of an agreement on the peaceful settlement of the conflict,
or to secure the progress of the past three years of negotiations in
order not to reopen them from scratch whenever they resume again.
3. The Co-Chairs recognize that preservation of the status quo after
thirteen years of "no peace-no war" in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
may seem less difficult for the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan
than the mutual compromises that will lead to an equitable and lasting
settlement of the conflict and, ultimately, to a new era of peace and
prosperity for their people. However if the parties to the conflict
choose nevertheless to avoid making courageous decisions now, we as
mediators cannot make these decisions in their place.
4. We take due note of the parties’ recent statements of their
willingness to continue the negotiations on the basis of what has
been developed over the past years. We urge them to give life to
these statements in the limited time remaining and to make resolute
efforts to consider again the fairly distributed benefits of the
solution embodied by the proposed basic principles. To that end,
the Co-Chairs are ready to assist the parties in the preparation for
their next summit, at the first opportunity, in the coming months.
5. Recently both sides showed their ability to create more favourable
conditions for preparing their public opinion for peace by organizing a
joint visit to Nagorno-Karabakh, Yerevan and Baku of a group of their
intellectuals. The Co-Chairs welcomed and highly appreciated that
event, which they consider as a first concrete confidence building
measure such as the Co-Chairs have constantly proposed and encouraged
in numerous fields to develop trust between the parties.
In this respect, the Co-Chairs regret that the recommendations of
the OSCE-led environmental assessment mission last year have not
been carried out and call upon the parties to make possible their
implementation.
6. Unfortunately, the Co-Chairs observe with concern several current
developments that, in their view, do not contribute to preparation
of the populations for peace. Among these are militaristic statements
threatening use of force and creating the dangerous illusion that war
is an option for resolution of the conflict. The upcoming so-called
presidential elections in Nagorno-Karabakh have already caused an
increase in tensions. Recalling their statements with respect to
previous votings in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Co-Chairs reiterate that,
like all other members of the international community, their countries
do not recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state, and such
"elections" should not have any impact on the peaceful settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Finally, the Co-Chairs stress the primary role of the OSCE Minsk
Group in mediation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. They note that
unilateral initiatives in other organizations can increase tensions
and disrupt the negotiation process. Therefore, they urge the sides
to focus their attention in the coming months on making real progress
in the negotiations mediated by the Minsk Group Co-Chairmen."