Armenpress News Agency , Armenia
 Monday


Azerbaijan remains silent on Krakow agreement over enhancing
Kasprzyk's capacity - Nalbandian



YEREVAN, JANUARY 29, ARMENPRESS. During the meeting of the Armenian
and Azerbaijani foreign ministers in Krakow, with the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs in attendance, a principled agreement was reached to
increase the number of team members of Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk’s
office – the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairperson-in-Office, Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian reaffirmed during
a press conference.

“Armenia has always been in favor of enhancing the capabilities of the
office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairperson-in-Office. It is the only structure carrying out
monitoring missions by the international structure in the conflict
zone, and certainly, if we increase both the quantity and efficiency
of those missions, meaning if we make those monitoring missions more
intensive, it might be favorable for decreasing tension in the
conflict zone and the 1994-1995 ceasefire agreements”, Nalbandian
said.

He reminded that these agreements were reached back in Vienna,several
suggestions were made by then-chairing (OSCE) Germany.

“The Armenian sides – Armenia and Artsakh – gave their agreement to
them. However it wasn’t possible to enhance the capacity of Kasprzyk’s
team because Azerbaijan created many obstacles.

In Krakow, a principle agreement was reached on the level of ministers
to make one step forward – to increase the international staff of
Kasprzyk’s team by 7”, Nalbandian said. He emphasized that both the
Co-Chairing countries and Armenia mentioned in their statements that
unlike Azerbaijan, which displays a creative behavirour typical to
itself after the meetings, it is no coincidence that the statements of
Azerbaijan completely differ from the statement made by Armenia or the
Co-Chairing countries.

“The same happened in Krakow. Azerbaijan is still silent, it hasn’t
said anything about reaching such agreement. Armenia and the
Co-Chairing countries are saying this. Soon the Co-Chairs will visit
the region – visiting Azerbaijan, Armenia and Artsakh. Let’s hope that
this agreement will be realized and Azerbaijan will not make a step
back once again”, he said.

The FM also addressed the question regarding the creation of
investigative mechanisms, stressing that the agreement about this was
reached not only during the Vienna summit, but it is being discussed
for at least 8-9 years.

“This suggestion was made by the Co-Chairs. Many times we had reached
mutual understanding, that this structure must be created, but it was
again Azerbaijan which refused the agreements. The Co-Chairing
countries had said for at least 2 times that Armenia has given
agreement and they are waiting for Azerbaijan’s agreement to create
the mechanism. The issue remains in the agenda. Let’s hope that it
will be possible to be created in the future, since it can act as an
important tool not only in terms of investigating cases, but also for
decreasing tension in the region, it can act as a prevention tool”, he
said.