DENNIS SAMMUT: "THOSE IN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN WHO WANT A BETTER FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES NEED TO STAND UP AND SUPPORT MOSCOW DECLARATION"

Today.Az
ws/politics/49447.html
Dec 6 2008
Azerbaijan

Interview Day.Az with Executive Director of the British organisation
LINKS Dennis Sammut.

– You were in Helsinki observing the Ministerial Meeting of the
OSCE. Do you think the meeting was a success?

– This is a critical moment for European security. The OSCE has
returned to its birth place, where in 1975 the Helsinki Final Act was
signed. That document is still the basis on which relations between
states in Europe are based. It is now time however for the OSCE to be
refreshed and renewed and this meeting in Helsinki has started this
process. I think that within a year or two the Presidents and leaders
of the OSCE member states will meet to seal this process. Between now
and then a lot of work needs to be done to ensure that Europe and the
Euro-atlantic region have new arrangements in place that will build
on the achievements of the past, but will also address the challenges
of the future.

– The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan met again in
Helsinki, together with the co-Chairmen of the Minsk Group. How do
you assess the results of these meetings?

– After the signing of the Moscow declaration by the two Presidents in
November there are expectations about the peace process. The two sides
need to agree to a timetable for moving the process forward. Russia,
the United States and France in their joint statement mentioned
the need first to finalise the discussions on the so called Madrid
Principles and following that to start negotiations on a peace
agreement. The sides must engage with these two tasks as soon as
possible. I think some steps in this direction took place in Helsinki.

– Different commentators have given different interpretations to the
Moscow declaration. Do you think this will harm the peace process?

– The Moscow declaration is short and is in simple language. Everybody
who reads it can understand it and people who try to give hidden
meanings are not helping the process. The declaration says what it
says, no more and no less. It is a good declaration signed by the
two Presidents. It is the basis on which the next stages of the work
needs to be built.

– The Azerbaijan Delegation in Helsinki also circulated a document
stating its principles on the Karabakh conflict. How do you see
this document?

– The document reflects the principles that guide the Azerbaijani
position. It is a well known position and there is nothing new in the
document issued in Helsinki by the Azerbaijan delegation. Anything that
is agreed by the two sides is however the subject of negotiations. For
this reason the Moscow declaration signed by the two Presidents needs
to be the basis on which future work can be build.

– Are you disappointed that after the Moscow meeting things have not
moved faster in the process of conflict resolution on Karabakh?

– Only four weeks have passed since the Moscow meeting. We are also
awaiting the new president of the United States to take office. So it
is too early to be disappointed. However I feel that it is important
that the momentum created by the Moscow meeting be maintained. This
is not only the responsibility of governments. I expect to hear more
people supporting the Moscow declaration from amongst politicians,
civil society, the media and so on. Part of the problem is that
some people are saying that the Moscow declaration has a hidden
meaning. I don’t see a hidden meaning. The declaration is short and
is clear. Those in Armenia and Azerbaijan who want a better future
for themselves and their families need to stand up and support it.