VICE-SPEAKER OF AZERBAIJANI PARLIAMENT BELIEVES OSCE NOT INTERESTED IN SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

Trend News Agency
July 9 2008
Azerbaijan

Vice-speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament believes that OSCE and other
international organizations are not interested in the settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"While I was not taking part in the events organized by OSCE, I was
hopeful that the visits of the co-chairmen to the region would yield
results. As I became involved in this process I saw the attitude
to this issue and I think that these visits are not of special
importance and certain international circles want the conflict to
continue further," Bahar Muradova, head of the Azerbaijani delegation
to OSCE Parliament Assembly and vice-speaker of the parliament said
while commenting on the results of OSCE Minsk Group chairmen’s visit
to the region in early July.

In 1992, Minsk Group was founded within OSCE by 10 states to settle the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by peaceful means. Three states including
US, Russia and France has been acting as co-chairmen of Minsk Group
since 1997.

According to Muradova, she witnessed double standards in the summer
session of OSCE PA held in Astana last week. "During the session
I appealed OSCE Secretary General about the violations during the
last presidential elections in Armenia. I asked whether discussions
over post election situation in Armenia, death cases, mass arrests
and other issues will be resumed. In a reply to my answer secretary
general said that there were permanent representation of OSCE in
Armenia and long-term observation mission was expected to be held
there. He said that this mission was observing the situation and
studying these issues," vice-speaker said and added that the last
visit of the co-chairmen was not a turning point.

The co-chairmen visited the region at the end of June.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in
1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan
lost the Nagorno-Karabakh, except of Shusha and Khojali, in December
1991. In 1992-93, Armenian Armed Forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and
Nagorno-Karabakh’s seven surrounding regions. In 1994, Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time the active
hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia,
France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful, but fruitless
negotiations.