BAKU URGES THE OSCE MINSK GROUP FOR NEW PROPOSALS ON THE KARABAKH CONFLICT REGULATION
PanARMENIAN.Net
10.07.2008 GMT+04:00
Azerbaijan might require the OSCE to brief on the process of
substituting the Minsk Group co-chairs.
For the past half-year Azerbaijan has developed a growing confrontation
against the OSCE Minsk Group over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
regulation. The story initiated back in March 2008 and, quite
apparently, it will last till October, when Presidential Elections
of Azerbaijan are expected. Till then Baku will try to blackmail the
world community through scandalous and militaristic statements. By the
way, international public still pays no attention to the statements
of Official Baku but it might be only for the time being.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ There is absolutely no guarantee that the USA
and the EC, which are anxious about Ilham Aliyev’s preservation
of the presidential post, react to such "inquiries of Official
Baku". According to Azerbaijan’s representative to the OSCE Fuad
Ismayilov, Azerbaijan might require the OSCE to brief on the process of
substituting the Minsk Group Co-chairs, who serve as intermediaries in
the process of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict regulation. "Presently
Azerbaijan is awaiting a response from the OSCE, after which it
will draw a conclusion. Next, for a more detailed investigation of
certain procedures, another inquiry will be issued to the OSCE,"
declared Fuad Ismayilov.
"Official Baku urges the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs to put pressure
on Armenia and include the issue of restoration of Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity into the package of proposals. Official Baku
is awaiting new proposals from the Co-chairs. We are hopeful that
the new proposals will meet Azerbaijan’s interests," Ismayilov said.
However, Ismayilov made a slip by saying that Azerbaijan does not cast
a doubt on the OSCE Minsk Group and its mandate. "It was a matter of
substitution of certain people – the co-chairs. Theoretically there
might arise a situation when it is necessary to substitute Mr. Â"AÂ"
for Mr. Â"BÂ". But we do not presently face such a requisite. The
most important issue to be discussed now is the Co-chairs’ statement
on completing the list of proposals made in Madrid. I call it a
list of proposals. These proposals must be elaborated, taking into
consideration Azerbaijan’s position. The document must reflect the
principles of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and withdrawal of
occupation forces," Fuad Ismayilov considers.
Azerbaijan makes a maximum effort to fasten her viewpoint on the OSCE
Minsk Group and the whole world but it does not fully realize the
consequences of such an attitude. In the long run blackmail has never
been a way to success, whereas it is important for Baku to obtain
the support of the world community at the Presidential Elections,
which, in all probability, will have even worse results than those
of Georgia and Armenia.
Such statements on the part of Baku might have been ignored by
the Co-chairs, but for one condition. The co-chairs, especially US
intermediary Mathew Bryza, clearly imply the importance of Azerbaijani
hydrocarbon for Europe. This encourages Official Baku to behave the
way it does. However, Baku should not forget that interests of the
U.S.A and the EC are influential, especially now with the rise of oil
price and devaluation of the U.S. dollar. The situation might change
any minute and Ilham Aliyev knows it best. However, preservation of
the president’s post is a priority for Aliyev and he is ready to use
any propagandistic trick to achieve his aim.
Press Secretary of the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan Khazar Ibrahim
makes statements which, though with delay, get an adequate response
from the Armenian side. Tigran Balayan, Head of the media relation
division of the RA Foreign Ministry, notes that the RA MFA is shocked
by the absolute diplomatic indiscretion of Azerbaijan. "On the other
hand such indiscretion on the Azerbaijani part is not a novelty;
it is not the first time that Azerbaijan has displayed imprudence in
diplomatic issues. Ibrahim’s statements demonstrate his diplomatic
ignorance both of international law and the Karabakh process. Moreover,
the Press Secretary of the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan ventures
to comment on the statements of ministers and even heads of state,"
Balayan notes.
Meanwhile, Sabine Frezier, Europe program director for International
Crisis Group (ICG), is certain that OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs
would not mind the EC playing a greater role in the regulation of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "Ambassador Bernard Fassier regularly
informs EU member states about the achievements in the negotiation
process. The role of EU is gradually growing. Though, frankly speaking,
I doubt that many EU member states would like to be engaged in the
process of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict regulation and replace co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group," Frezier says.
–Boundary_(ID_hJP4B7IkId7R5MqVlQIaEw)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
