OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRMEN FIND THAT RESOLUTION INTRODUCED BY AZERBAIJAN IN UN THREATENS TO WEAKEN PEACE PROCESS
Noyan Tapan
March 18, 2008
YEREVAN, MARCH 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The United States, France and the
Russian Federation, as OSCE Minsk Group co-presiding countries
involved in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, made a statement at the
United Nations General Assembly on March 14 on the occasion of voting
against the resolution on the situation in the captured territories
of Azerbaijan. This information was provided by the Radio Liberty.
"The representatives of the political level of France, the Russian
Federation and the United States as co-Chairmen of the OSCE Minsk
Group, who are involved in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict issues,
offered a parcel of fundamental principles of a peaceful regulation of
Nagorno Karabakh to the sides during the sitting days of the council of
ministers held in Madrid in November 2007. These fundamental principles
are based on the provisions of the Helsinki final document, including
the provisions, which concern keeping away from the use of force
and threats, the territorial completeness of states and equality and
self-determination rights of peoples," is said in the statement. "The
suggestion, which was passed to the sides in Madrid, is composed of
the balanced parcel of the principles, which are currently in the
negotiation stage. The sides agreed that no separate element will be
considered as coordinated, until all the elements are coordinated."
"Unfortunately, this draft resolution selectively defends only certain
principles, excluding others and without taking into consideration
the suggestions of the co-Chairmen in their balanced entity," the
international mediators continue. "And because of this selective
approach, the three co-presiding countries of the OSCE Minsk Group
should be against this unilateral draft resolution. They reaffirm
that the peaceful and long-lasting regulation of the Nagorno Karabakh
problem with equal conditions will demand inevitable compromises
between the sides, which will reflect the principles of territorial
completeness, non-application of force, equal rights of peoples,
as well as other principles of the international law."
The three co-presiding countries of the OSCE Minsk Group will
vote against this unilateral draft resolution, which "threatens to
weaken the peace process." At the same time, they "reaffirm their
assistance for the territorial completeness of Azerbaijan and thus
do not recognize the independence of Nagorno Karabakh."
"When serious clashes have taken place along the contact line and
human loses have been recorded, the two sides should abstain from
unilateral and maximalist activities both around the negotiation table
and in the field," the Co-Chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group concluded.