OSCE SECRETARY GENERAL MARC PERRIN DE BRICHAMBAUT: "THE OSCE STANDS READY TO FURTHER SUPPORT THE AZERBAIJAN’S EFFORTS TO CONTINUE DEMOCRATIC REFORMS"

APA
July 14 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku. Victoria Dementyeva – APA. Interview with OSCE Secretary General
Marc Perrin de Brichambaut

– What role OSCE plays in the context of international relations at
the time?

– The OSCE, which is the world’s largest regional security organization
with 56 participating States, continues to play a key role in
helping to build security and stability in its area. In this regard
the Organization has an important role to play in taking forward the
dialogue on the future of European security. As the OSCE participating
States have agreed, the time has come to take stock of how far we have
come in building a Europe "whole, free and at peace with itself." We
have seen tremendous progress in the two decades since the end of
the Cold War, but many challenges remain unresolved.

There is a need for an open, sustained, wide-ranging and inclusive
dialogue on security and the OSCE is a natural forum to anchor this
dialogue, thanks to its inclusiveness, its comprehensive security
concept and its long experience. The OSCE also remains the only
regional organization bringing together all states in the Euro-Atlantic
and Eurasian areas on an equal footing.

– The Chairman of OSCE Ms. Dora Bakoyyanis planned to hold OSCE
Summit in 2009. Is there any news on that issue? If it will be held,
what will be the topic?

– The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Greek Foreign Minister Dora
Bakoyannis, recently hosted an informal meeting of OSCE foreign
ministers on the Greek island of Corfu on 27 and 28 June. This meeting
brought together the 56 OSCE states as well as representatives of
international organizations to launch the "Corfu Process" for a
renewed dialogue on European security.

The "Corfu process" represents an opportunity for all states of
our region to come together to assess where there are gaps in their
common security, and to craft more effective responses to remaining
challenges. It does not seek to replace Europe’s existing network of
security institutions, but rather to strengthen them in dealing with
outstanding challenges, and to encourage greater co-operation.

– What OSCE is going to undertake to for resolving the frozen conflict,
and Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in particular? How do you think, if any
opportunities for resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict this year?

The co-chairs of Minsk group OSCE told that they were planning
the Nagorno-Karabakh summit with the participation of 3 presidents
OSCE Minsk group countries. Will the OSCE officials participate in
it? What’s your attitude towards that?

-The OSCE is committed to the existing structures to addressing the
region’s protracted conflicts and fully supports the work of the OSCE
Minsk Group Co-Chairs. The meetings that have taken place between the
Presidents and Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia are critical
to the progress we have seen recently, and the OSCE fully supports
this dialogue. The upcoming meeting between the Presidents in Moscow
on July 17 will mark another step in the negotiation process. As the
OSCE Chairperson said when she was in Baku at the start of July, the
latest developments in the negotiation process and the constructive
discussions that have taken place are encouraging. There is a positive
momentum in the discussions, and it is important to build on this.

The intensified mediation efforts of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs
as well as the confidence-building work of the Chairperson’s
Personal Representative Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, are also very
important. The statement by the presidents of the Minsk Group Co-Chair
countries – France, Russia and the United States – at the G-8 summit
are further indications of both the importance the international
community places on achieving a peaceful, negotiated settlement,
and of the fact that we believe there is an opportunity to make
further progress. The statement announced that the Presidents of
the Co-Chair countries are instructing the mediators to present an
updated version of the 2007 Madrid document, which I hope will also
help bring us closer to a comprehensive settlement.

– How do you estimate the development of democratic institutions in
Azerbaijan and situation with media in our country?

Vibrant political competition, a strong civil society and a free
press are critical to the democratic process and represent key
commitments. The Parliament’s recent decision to help ensure that
amendments to the law on NGOs do not restrict the activities of
civil society was a positive one in this regard. I also welcome the
dialogue that Azerbaijan is pursuing with the OSCE Representative on
Freedom of the Media, and I strongly believe we can further cooperate
to improve the legal media environment.

The OSCE supports participating States in their efforts to fulfil their
commitments, and the Organization, in particular its Office in Baku,
stands ready to further support the country’s efforts to continue
democratic reforms. The Office has enjoyed excellent co-operation
with Azerbaijan in a wide range of activities, from community policing
to trial monitoring. The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights can
also support Azerbaijan in fulfilling its commitments with respect
to media freedom, and to build on the progress shown in last year’s
presidential election ahead of the municipal elections in December
and the parliamentary elections next year.

Azerbaijan has enjoyed robust economic growth in recent years, and
despite the negative effects of the financial crisis, will continue
the positive trend this year. This also represents an opportunity to
deepen reforms. I fully support the State Programme on Socio-Economic
Development of Regions to accelerate development of the non-oil sector
and diversify the economy, achieve balanced regional and sustainable
socio-economic development and further improve the welfare of all
people in the country.

– As we know you are planning visit to Azerbaijan. What is the main
aim of your visit to Azerbaijan? When are you planning to come and
what issues are to be discussed?

– I am pleased to be visiting Azerbaijan on the invitation of the
Azerbaijani authorities. During my visit I will meet President
Aliyev and representatives of the foreign, internal affairs,
justice and economic development ministries and of parliament, as
well as Ambassadors from OSCE participating States and Partners for
Co-operation and the Head and staff of the OSCE Office in Baku. I
am very much looking forward to learning more about the latest
developments in the country, and to discuss how the OSCE can further
enhance its cooperation with Azerbaijan.