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INTERVIEW-OSCE CHAIRMAN UPBEAT ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH DISPUTE
By Brett Young
Reuters AlertNet
Dec 2 2008
UK
HELSINKI, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Azerbaijan and Armenia have made progress
in resolving a long-standing dispute over a Caucasus mountain enclave
and the OSCE hopes for a regional declaration on the issue at its
annual meetings later this week, its chairman said on Tuesday.
"Things are looking quite good on Nagorno-Karabakh," Finnish Foreign
Minister Alexander Stubb, who is leading the Organisation for Security
and Cooperation in Europe under the Finnish chairmanship, told Reuters
in an interview.
"I think that we are moving away from a frozen conflict towards a
permanent solution, but of course we are not there yet, and it is
very important that the Minsk Group works on this," Stubb said.
The Minsk Group -- co-chaired by Russia, the United States and France
-- was established by the OSCE in 1992 to bring about a peaceful
resolution in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, where a Russian-brokered
ceasefire has held since 1994.
Nagorno-Karabakh's mostly ethnic Armenian population broke away from
Azerbaijan as the Soviet Union collapsed in the 1980s and early
1990s. Some 35,000 people were killed in fighting and more than a
million wre forced to flee their homes.
The territory now runs its own affairs with support from Armenia. The
matter remains a serious source of tension in the volatile Caucasus
region. Stubb said talks among the 50 foreign ministers in Helsinki
on Dec. 4-5 for the annual meeting of Europe's main security and
human rights body will be dominated by Caucasus disputes, including
Nagorno-Karabakh, along with the broader question of European security.
The August war between OSCE members Russia and Georgia over breakaway
South Ossetia has cast a shadow over the meeting, with military
monitors from the security and human rights organisation still unable
to return to the breakaway region.
POLITICAL DECLARATION
Stubb said he was "rather disappointed" monitors were not allowed back
in, and said talks on the impasse would continue in Moscow on Dec. 8.
"Hopefully we can solve it before the end of the year when the (OSCE)
mandate runs out," Stubb said. "(But) I won't give any odds on that."
Stubb said he welcomed a new discussion on European security, an idea
first broached by Russia in October, as long as it did not seek to
eclipse the role of the OSCE.
"I will be happy if we have had a refreshing discussion on European
security, but one which confirms the existence and the future of the
OSCE as a vibrant organisation taking care of security, the economy
and democracy," he said.
"There are some key principles on which I think we should not even
being negotiations. They have to do with territorial integrity,
democracy, human rights, and the non-use of force in solving
conflicts," he added.
Stubb said he did not expect a regional declaration on a second
dispute, between Moldova and Transdnestria, during the meeting.
He said Finland was working hard on a political declaration reaffirming
OSCE principles and opening the door to a possible summit meeting in
2009 or 2010 that could be signed by all participants.
The last joint political declaration was signed in 2002 in Portugal,
and Stubb admitted it would be tough to achieve one this time around
given the tense atmosphere following the Russia-Georgia war.
"I am not yet at this stage very hopeful," Stubb said.
By Brett Young
Reuters AlertNet
Dec 2 2008
UK
HELSINKI, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Azerbaijan and Armenia have made progress
in resolving a long-standing dispute over a Caucasus mountain enclave
and the OSCE hopes for a regional declaration on the issue at its
annual meetings later this week, its chairman said on Tuesday.
"Things are looking quite good on Nagorno-Karabakh," Finnish Foreign
Minister Alexander Stubb, who is leading the Organisation for Security
and Cooperation in Europe under the Finnish chairmanship, told Reuters
in an interview.
"I think that we are moving away from a frozen conflict towards a
permanent solution, but of course we are not there yet, and it is
very important that the Minsk Group works on this," Stubb said.
The Minsk Group -- co-chaired by Russia, the United States and France
-- was established by the OSCE in 1992 to bring about a peaceful
resolution in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, where a Russian-brokered
ceasefire has held since 1994.
Nagorno-Karabakh's mostly ethnic Armenian population broke away from
Azerbaijan as the Soviet Union collapsed in the 1980s and early
1990s. Some 35,000 people were killed in fighting and more than a
million wre forced to flee their homes.
The territory now runs its own affairs with support from Armenia. The
matter remains a serious source of tension in the volatile Caucasus
region. Stubb said talks among the 50 foreign ministers in Helsinki
on Dec. 4-5 for the annual meeting of Europe's main security and
human rights body will be dominated by Caucasus disputes, including
Nagorno-Karabakh, along with the broader question of European security.
The August war between OSCE members Russia and Georgia over breakaway
South Ossetia has cast a shadow over the meeting, with military
monitors from the security and human rights organisation still unable
to return to the breakaway region.
POLITICAL DECLARATION
Stubb said he was "rather disappointed" monitors were not allowed back
in, and said talks on the impasse would continue in Moscow on Dec. 8.
"Hopefully we can solve it before the end of the year when the (OSCE)
mandate runs out," Stubb said. "(But) I won't give any odds on that."
Stubb said he welcomed a new discussion on European security, an idea
first broached by Russia in October, as long as it did not seek to
eclipse the role of the OSCE.
"I will be happy if we have had a refreshing discussion on European
security, but one which confirms the existence and the future of the
OSCE as a vibrant organisation taking care of security, the economy
and democracy," he said.
"There are some key principles on which I think we should not even
being negotiations. They have to do with territorial integrity,
democracy, human rights, and the non-use of force in solving
conflicts," he added.
Stubb said he did not expect a regional declaration on a second
dispute, between Moldova and Transdnestria, during the meeting.
He said Finland was working hard on a political declaration reaffirming
OSCE principles and opening the door to a possible summit meeting in
2009 or 2010 that could be signed by all participants.
The last joint political declaration was signed in 2002 in Portugal,
and Stubb admitted it would be tough to achieve one this time around
given the tense atmosphere following the Russia-Georgia war.
"I am not yet at this stage very hopeful," Stubb said.