VLADIMIR KAZIMIROV CONSIDERS NECESSARY TO WORK OUT SYSTEM OF COMPULSION OF PEACE

Noyan Tapan
May 15, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 15, NOYAN TAPAN. Vladimir Kazimirov, the former Russian
Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, considers that resumption of military
operations on the Armenian-Azeri contact line should be in no case
permitted. According to him, the Armenian and Azeri armed forces have
approximately the same military potential, and in those conditions
a war can last rather long and lead to no result. Besides, military
operations will call forth a strict response by the international
community.

Therefore, as he mentioned at the May 15 press conference, not signing
of some agreement between the sides, but its fulfillment in the future
is more important. V. Kazimirov reminded that the agreement signed
in 1995 on events of strengthening the ceasefire established in 1994
was not fulfilled, as it is not beneficial for all sides signing
the document. In particular, Baku does not like it that Stepanakert
has also signed the agreement. The Russian diplomat said that the
Armenian and Karabakh leaders have expressed readiness to return to
fulfillment of that document’s points if Azerbaijan does the same,
but no response was received from Baku. "It is obvious that someone
needs ceasefire violation," V. Kazimirov said. He also mentioned
that Baku that has repeatedly expressed concern on cases of ceasfire
violation has never presented a proposal for preventing them.

According to V. Kazimirov, under the circumstances of lack of
security guarantees it is difficult to imagine fulfillment of any
signed document. In his words, for the Armenians to return some
territory they should be convinced that Azeri side’s attack will not
follow it. "It is also obvious that international community’s calls
for keeping peace are addressed to neither Yerevan nor Stepanakert,
but to the very Baku," the speaker said.

Vladimir Kazimirov considers necessary to work out a system of
compulsion of peace, which should be done in a civilized way, by
political and diplomatic methods. According to him, countries to be
involved in peacekeeping actions should be ready for compulsion of
peace to the sides by military methods if necessary. And whether there
will be such volunteers among OSCE member countries’ peacekeepers –
it is difficult to say.