OSCE MG: UN RESOLUTION SELECTIVE AND INADEQUATE
KarabakhOpen
18-03-2008 17:12:42
The United States, France and the Russian Federation, in their
capacity as Co-Chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group dealing with the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict, issued the following statement on March 14,
2008 in the United Nations General Assembly regarding their decision
to vote against the ‘Resolution on the Situation in the Occupied
Territories of 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.
While the three Minsk Group Co-Chair countries 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.
At a time when serious clashes have occurred along the Line of
Contact with loss of life, both sides must refrain from unilateral and
maximalist actions either at the negotiating table or in the field,"
the OSCE communication unit reports.
On March 14, with 39 votes in favor, 7 against and 100 abstentions,
the UN General Assembly adopted the ‘Resolution on the Situation in
the Occupied Territories of Azerbaijan’
The OSCE MG co-chair states – Russia, U.S. and France voted against
the measure.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly
can cause a crack in the Karabakh process, Armenia’s Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian told Kentron TV Channel.
"The talks may collapse if Azerbaijan keeps on pushing forth the
provisions of the resolution. In this case, the absence of common
grounds will drive Armenia out of the process and Azerbaijan will
have to hold talks immediately with Stepanakert," the Minister said.
"The OSCE MG proposals on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement
have nothing in common with the resolution adopted by the UN General
Assembly.
The draft resolution was put on the UN GA agenda two years ago. During
this time the mediators succeeded in convincing Azerbaijan of
inadvisability of the measure that could be supported by two dozens
of Islamic states only," he said.
According to the Minister, the Kosovo issue and to some extent
Armenia’s domestic situation whipped Azerbaijan up. "However,
the Armenian side has numerously stated that Kosovo will not set a
precedent for Karabakh," he said.