OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS ISSUE STATEMENT ON UN RESOLUTION

Azeri Press Agency
March 18 2008
Azerbaijan

"The political-level representatives of France, the Russian Federation,
and the United States, as Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group dealing
with the Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) conflict, jointly proposed a set of
basic principles for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
(NK) conflict to the sides in November 2007 on the margins of the
OSCE Ministerial Council in Madrid. These basic principles are
founded on the provisions of the Helsinki Final Act, including
those related to refraining from the threat or use of force,
the territorial integrity of the states, and the equal rights and
self-determination of peoples. The proposal transmitted to the sides in
Madrid comprises a balanced package of principles that are currently
under negotiation. The sides have agreed that no single element is
agreed until all elements are agreed by the parties.

Unfortunately, this draft resolution selectively propagates only
certain of these principles to the exclusion of others, without
considering the Co-Chairs’ proposal in its balanced entirety.

Because of this selective approach, the three OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair
countries must oppose this unilateral draft resolution. They reiterate
that a peaceful, equitable, and lasting settlement of the NK conflict
will require unavoidable compromises among the parties that reflect
the principles of territorial integrity, non-use of force, and equal
rights of peoples, as well as other principles of international law",
the statement said.

”While the Minsk Group Co-Chairs will vote against this unilateral
draft resolution, which threatens to undermine the peace process, they
reaffirm their support for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and
thus do not recognize the independence of NK”, reads the statement.

At a time when serious clashes have occurred on March 4 along the
contact line with loss of life, the co-chairs called on both sides
to refrain from unilateral and maximalist actions either at the
negotiating table or in the field.