France-Artsakh Friendship Circle supports OSCE Minsk Group’s charges
against Azerbaijan

Friday, January 30, 13:23

The France-Artsakh Friendship Circle supports the OSCE Minsk Group’s
charges against Azerbaijan.

French Co-chair of the Circle, French Senator Francois Rochebloine
said that it was the first time that the OSCE MG co-chairs pointed out
Azerbaijan’s responsibility for tensions in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Rochebloine commends the co-chairs for their statement recognizing
Armenia’s reserved attitude and implying that Nagorno-Karabakh is also
a party to the peace talks.

The French Senator pointed out that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will
not be settled if no attention is paid to Nagorno-Karabakh’s
position. He said that the OSCE MG co-chairs’ statement contained an
indirect call for withdrawal of snipers from the contact line – a call
that is supported by Armenia but is rejected by Azerbaijan.

Rochebloine believes that the co-chairs are right when blaming Baku
for instability in the conflict zone. “By putting a sign of equality
between the one that attacks and the one who defends himself we will
not be able to settle the conflict. Here we need impartiality rather
than false parity equalizing Nagorno-Karabakh’s democracy with
Azerbaijan’s dictatorship,” Rochebloine said.

In their last statement the OSCE Minsk Group expressed their serious
concern about reported incursions across the Line of Contact and the
Armenia-Azerbaijan border, resulting in casualties.

“The rise in violence that began last year must stop for confidence to
be restored and progress to be made in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process. We called on Azerbaijan to observe its commitments to a
peaceful resolution of the conflict. We also call on Armenia to take
all measures to reduce tensions. All sides must abide by the terms of
the ceasefire agreement. Violence undermines efforts to bring about
peace,” the co-chairs said.