OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF UN MEMBER STATES DO NOT SUPPORT AZERBAIJAN’S POSITION ON NAGORNO KARABAKH
armradio.am
15.03.2008 11:26
On Friday March 14, the United Nations General Assembly voted on a
draft resolution introduced by Azerbaijan in which Azerbaijan attempted
to secure international support for its own desired outcome for the
Nagorno Karabakh resolution process.
The OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair countries – US, France and the Russian
Federation – voted against the resolution as did Armenia and a few
other countries. Over 150 countries abstained or did not vote. Only
39 countries supported the resolution, out of organizational affinity
with either GUAM or the Organization of Islamic Conference.
Although the non-binding resolution passed the General Assembly, the
rejection of Azerbaijan’s position by an overwhelming majority is a
barometer of the mood of the international community on this issue.
"I hope Azerbaijan got the message from the international community.
Taking the lead of the co-chairs, a majority of member states
repelled the one-sided approach," said Armenia’s Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian.
Minister Oskanian characterized the resolution as hypocritical. "On
the one hand, in an effort to disinform member states, the resolution
included a paragraph that supports the OSCE Minsk Process. On the
other hand, Azerbaijan blatantly ignored the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
position. The co-chair countries had made clear they would not support
the resolution and in fact voted against the resolution."
"Now we wonder what Azerbaijan’s next move will be," he said.
"We question whether this resolution was intended to derail the
negotiating process or whether they got the clear message and will
return to the negotiating table to work on a negotatied, compromise
lasting solution."
At a press conference earlier in the week, Minister Oskanian had stated
that President-Elect Serge Sargsyan would be prepared to meet with the
Azerbaijani President at the earliest possibility, if the co-chairs
find this useful and if Azerbaijan accepts. "This opportunity exists,"
Oskanian said. "The ball is clearly in Azerbaijan’s court."
"Rejecting Azerbaijan’s resolution, the international community
has indicated its support for the negotiating document on the table
today which has successfully managed to reconcile the two seemingly
contradictory principles of the Helsinki Final Act — people’s right
to self-determination and territorial integrity," explained Armenia’s
Foreign Minister. "This document presents a unique opportunity for
Azerbaijanis and Armenians to move forward. This is precisely what
sets the Nagorno Karabakh conflict apart in our region and in Europe
and makes it sui generis, not only because of its legal and historical
context, but also because of the innovative negotiating approach to
finding a realistic, lasting resolution."
Earlier the same day, had met with the co-chairs of the Minsk Group,
who had discussed the possibility of the resumption of talks, the UN
resolution and the situation on the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line
of contact.