KARABAKH PEOPLE SHOULD FEEL SAFE, OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS CONSIDER

Noyan Tapan

Nov 18, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs
consider ensuring Nagorno Karabakh people’s security one of the most
important issues in the process of settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict. As French Co-chair, Ambassador Bernard Fassier stated at
the November 17 press conference, the necessity of creating conditions
for secure life of Nagorno Karabakh people is taken into consideration
without fail in the process of peaceful settlement. At the moment the
problem of Nagorno Karabakh security only depends on Nagorno Karabakh
itself and on Armenia. Nagorno Karabakh population’s security should be
ensured by carrying out many-sided measures supported by international
guarantees. Azerbaijan’s consent need to be received to realize these
measures," the French diplomat stated.

His Russian and American colleagues, Ambassadors Yuri Merzliakov and
Matthew Bryza, expressed an analogous point of view. According to
Bryza, the people of Karabakh should feel safe of physical attacks
and economic pressure.

In response to the question that return of territories adjoining
Nagorno Karabakh controlled by Armenian armed formations is impossible
without Nagorno Karabakh people’s consent, Yuri Merzliakov said: "No
one asked Nagorno Karabakh people about its opinion of these lands. I
cannot agree that 100 percent Nagorno Karabakh residents are against
returning the territories with keeping the security conditions."

According to him, the Co-chairs strive for finding a solution
convenient to all conflict sides. As to recognition of Nagorno Karabakh
independence, the Russian diplomat noted that it should be rendered
more clear what frameworks exactly are spoken about. "Karabakh’s
independence within the framework of Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous
Region of Azeri SSR, independence within the borders of 1991, or the
current situation with the territories bordering upon Nagorno Karabakh
are meant. I consider that we should proceed from real things and be
realists," Ambassador Merzliakov said.

French Co-chair Fassier said that at present the process is at the
preliminary stage of formation of an agreement on peace. "We would like
an agreement on the basic issues to be reached, but unfortunately,
it is not so. All these details will be discussed one day, but we
have not reached it yet."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress