OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs issue a joint statement
armradio.am
14.07.2007 14:17
The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group issued a joint statement to give
their 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 Robert Kocharyan and
the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in St
Petersburg.
‘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,’ the statement reads.
`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.
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.
Recently both sides showed their ability to create more favorable
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.
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 voting 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.’