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OSCE MG fact-finding mission reported to OSCE permanent council

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  • OSCE MG fact-finding mission reported to OSCE permanent council

    PanArmenian News
    March 18 2005

    OSCE MINSK GROUP FACT-FINDING MISSION PRESENTED ITS REPORT TO OSCE
    PERMANENT COUNCIL

    18.03.2005 03:58

    /PanARMENIAN.Net/ The OSCE Minsk Group Fact-Finding Mission has
    officially presented its report on the settling the territories
    adjacent to Nagorno Karabakh to the OSCE Permanent Council, IA Regnum
    reports. On this occasion the Armenian Foreign Ministry issued a
    statement, which says in part, `Armenia appreciates the diligent,
    hard work of the Minsk Group co-chairs and the members of the
    Mission. We believe that their detailed, first-hand, objective report
    clearly describes the situation on the ground in the region. Armenia
    is pleased that it was able to facilitate the mission. Armenia also
    wishes to thank the authorities of Nagorno Karabakh for their
    logistical and practical contributions to the success of the Mission.
    Armenia believes that the most important accomplishment of the Fact
    Finding Mission Report is that it has laid to rest Azerbaijan's
    charges.' The Fact Finding Mission Report affirms the following: a.
    `Overall settlement is quite limited.' `There is no clear organized
    resettlement, no non-voluntary resettlement, no recruitment.' b. The
    co-chairs say, `The mission did not determine that such settlement
    has resulted from a deliberate policy by the government of Armenia.'
    The Report says, `The Fact-Finding Mission has seen no evidence of
    direct involvement by the authorities of Armenia in the territories.'
    c. Those settlers who have found refuge in these territories are
    primarily from regions of Azerbaijan: `The Fact-Finding Mission has
    concluded that the overwhelming majority of settlers are displaced
    persons from various parts of Azerbaijan, notably, from Shahumian and
    Getashen - now under Azerbaijani control.' In light of these
    conclusions, we note that the total number of settlers is
    insignificant given that there are over 400,000 Armenian refugees as
    a result of the conflict. Without those living in Lachin, then the
    total number of settlers is indeed negligible. The co-chairs have
    noted that `Lachin has been treated as a separate case in previous
    negotiations.' This is because Lachin is Nagorno Karabakh's
    humanitarian and security corridor. Without it, Nagorno Karabakh
    would remain an isolated enclave. It is because of Lachin's political
    and geographic reality and security dimension, that it is viewed
    differently in the negotiation process. Furthermore, the co-chairs
    state: `...most settlers interviewed by the Fact Finding Mission
    expressed a desire to return to the areas from which they fled...'
    However, their old homes, in areas which were formerly
    Armenian-populated, are today under Azerbaijani control, and their
    homes have been appropriated by Azerbaijanis. According to the United
    Nations Economic and Social Council Committee on Economic, Social and
    Cultural Rights `The Committee is concerned about the illegal
    occupation by refugees and internally displaced persons of properties
    belonging to Armenians and other ethnic minorities.' Armenia, at the
    request of the authorities of Nagorno Karabakh, has requested that
    the OSCE Permanent Council mandate a fact-finding mission for a
    similarly transparent assessment of those regions which were formerly
    largely-Armenian populated, and are today under Azerbaijan's control:
    the Northern Martakert and Eastern Martuni regions of Nagorno
    Karabakh, and Shahumian. This process of the Fact Finding Mission
    began because Azerbaijan claimed there was intentional, massive,
    coordinated settlement policy, which would harm the negotiation
    process. Armenia agreed to facilitate a fact-finding mission and
    Azerbaijan agreed in return not to take any action on its UN
    resolution and suspend the initiative.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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