PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

AZG Armenian Daily
15/03/2008

Overwhelming Majority of UN Member States Do Not Support Azerbaijan’s
Position on Nagorno Karabakh

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 Sargisian 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.