NEW POSITION IN OLD WAY

Azat Artsakh Newspaper NKR
January 25, 2010

On the occasion of Robert Bradtke’s visit to Stepanakert Last day
of the past week was marked by arrival of the American co-chair of
the OSCE Minsk group Robert Bradtke to Stepanakert. Single visits
of intermediaries are included already into practice of shuttle
diplomacy and consequently it is not necessary to be surprised
at them and especially to search in them for a certain political
underlying reason. Visit of Robert Bradtke to the region, including
also Nagorno-Karabakh, pursued the aim in the beginning of a new
"trunk-call" year to specify positions of the parties of the Karabakh
conflict, and also to share reasons concerning prospects of settlement
and to prepare the next meeting of the presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan. So we may say routine work of intermediaries of peace
process. Nevertheless, statements of co-chairs of the Minsk group even
in this conventionalism cause certain interest, as they are capable to
throw light on tendencies of succession of events to some extent. What
has the American diplomat told in Stepanakert? Certainly, outside the
limits of an audience with the NKR President, which maintenance had
a confidential character. In conversation with journalists Robert
Bradtke, first, has informed, that the Madrid principles which,
as it’s known, should form a base for finding of the definitive
decision of a problem, officially are not presented to the Karabakh
party. Telling the truth, similar revelation, confession – are not news
at all for Nagorno-Karabakh. The NKR authorities repeatedly specified
in inadmissibility of official ignoring of the right of the Karabakh
party for discussion of principles of settlement, which concern itself
directly. What to say that official Stepanakert earlier, and rather
accurately, has designated the position by the mentioned principles,
having considered them unacceptable for itself. But it’s already a
theme of other conversation. However, in this case at least strange
motivation of the American diplomat of the given circumstance is
worthy of noticing, but more exactly, doubtfulness. According to him,
the Madrid principles are not represented to the NKR management’s
discussion, as … the Karabakh party does not participate in the
negotiations. But there is quite reasonable question: who if not
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk group should return Nagorno-Karabakh at
the negotiating table and by that to restore a natural trunk-call
format? As the present situation absolutely contradicts documents
of OSCE in which Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized as the party of the
conflict and the full participant of negotiations. So in what is the
fact? In order not to say, that this eurostructure does not respect
itself and submits obediently to absurd requirements of Azerbaijan,
which performs furiously in the negotiating process against the
participation of the NKR, we’ll say, that it is obliged to respect
own decisions at least.

Illogicalness of the actions of co-chairmanship of the Minsk group
is expressed also in other thing. Practically all co-chairs assert,
that by working out of the definitive peace agreement, opinion of
Nagorno-Karabakh will be necessarily considered. Here recently at
press conference in Yerevan the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia
Sergey Lavrov has declared: "the Madrid principles will put a basis
for preparation of already legally obliging peaceful settlement. In
the process of preparation of such contract the position of population
of Nagorno-Karabakh should be considered". In this case why opinion
of Karbakh people not to consider already now -in the process of
discussion of principles, instead of in its finishing stage? After
all in any case it is necessary to present the hypothetical peace
treaty to the Karabakh party as without its assent and participation
it will be impossible to realize the future decision. However let’s
return again to Robert Bradtke. In Stepanakert the American diplomat
has confirmed his country’s position: "We have emphasized, that
application of force or threat of application of force are absolutely
unacceptable". Let’s admit, this is not again a new position. And
it is supported by Russian and French colleagues of Mr. Bradtke. But
again I’d like to ask: whether it is time for intermediaries to pass,
at last, from beautiful words to concrete and practical affairs? As,
who threatens with force application, breaks the normal course of
settlement, well-known. However for all these long years the OSCE
has not found time to bridle the haughty official Baku which is
not stopping the policy of blackmail and threats, and to force it
to refuse militaristic rhetoric. There is an impression, that the
co-chairmanship of the OSCE MG sees its role of intermediary in calming
Nagorno-Karabakh, that there will not be a war. Both Armenian parties
have already declared time and again, that they do not wish a war, but
also are not afraid of it, and the aggressor should draw corresponding
conclusions. However, as well as intermediaries whom for achievement of
really objective decision based on realistic approaches and the account
of all political-legal aspects of a problem, it is necessary to correct
the present deformed situation in negotiating process and to restore
the equal status and the equal rights of all parties of the conflict.