Trend, Azerbaijan
Nov 28 2008
CE Hardly to Become an Ideal Forum for Settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh
Conflict – Chairman of the CE Committee of Ministers
28.11.08 11:08
France, Strasburg, November 27 / corr Trend News A.Maharramli/ `I
don’t expect any the Council of Europe to become an ideal forum for
the solution of the [Armenian-Azerbaijani] Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,’
said Angel Moratinos, the new chairman of the CE Committee of
Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, during the press
conference held at CE in Strasburg on 27 November.
Attending the conference were Karl Bildt, Minister of Foreign Affairs
of Sweden, and Terry Davis, CE Secretary-General.
Moratinos stressed that there are other options for the solution of
the conflict. `As Secretary-General mentioned, I have been engaged in
this issue when I was the OSCE chairman. Negotiations between
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been reformed. In his turn the chairman of
the CE Committee of Ministers can revive the dialogue and assist in
the creation of atmosphere of confidence. This is what we are trying
for,’ he emphasized.
The conflict between the two countries of South Caucasus began in 1988
due to territorial claims by Armenia against Azerbaijan. Armenia has
occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani land including the Nagorno-Karabakh
region and its seven surrounding Districts. Since 1992, these
territories have been under the occupation of the Armenian Forces. 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 USA) are currently holding peaceful
negotiations.
Moratinos reiterated that they will make all efforts to create the
political and diplomatic environment.
`I do believe we are more near to the achievement of peace than we
were before. We’ll use all of the opportunities to create a good
political and diplomatic atmosphere. I call on both sides to keep
continuing dialogue to find solution to the dispute,’ he noted.
He also added that the conference expected to be held in Baku next
week will become the first during Spain’s chairmanship at the CE
Committee of Ministers. Such an inter-cultural conference about the
dialogue will provide good basis for joint activitie, he said.
From: Baghdasarian