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Press and Information Department
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Armenia
Tel. + 37410 544041. ext. 202
Fax. + 37410 565601
e-mail: [email protected]
web: www.armeniaforeignministry.am
Overwhelming Majority of UN Member States Do Not Support Azerbaijan's
Position on Nagorno Karabakh
On Friday March 14, the United Nations General Assembly voted on a draft
resolution introduced by Azerbaijan in which Azerbaijan attempted to secure
international support for its own desired outcome for the Nagorno Karabakh
resolution process.
The OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair countries - US, France and the Russian
Federation - voted against the resolution as did Armenia and a few other
countries. Over 150 countries abstained or did not vote. Only 39 countries
supported the resolution, out of organizational affinity with either GUAM or
the Organization of Islamic Conference.
Although the non-binding resolution passed the General Assembly, the
rejection of Azerbaijan's position by an overwhelming majority is a
barometer of the mood of the international community on this issue.
"I hope Azerbaijan got the message from the international community. Taking
the lead of the co-chairs, a majority of member states repelled the
one-sided approach," said Armenia's Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian.
Minister Oskanian characterized the resolution as hypocritical. "On the one
hand, in an effort to disinform member states, the resolution included a
paragraph that supports the OSCE Minsk Process. On the other hand,
Azerbaijan blatantly ignored the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs position. The
co-chair countries had made clear they would not support the resolution and
in fact voted against the resolution."
"Now we wonder what Azerbaijan's next move will be," he said. "We question
whether this resolution was intended to derail the negotiating process or
whether they got the clear message and will return to the negotiating table
to work on a negotatied, compromise lasting solution."
At a press conference earlier in the week, Minister Oskanian had stated that
President-Elect Serge Sargisian would be prepared to meet with the
Azerbaijani President at the earliest possibility, if the co-chairs find
this useful and if Azerbaijan accepts. "This opportunity exists," Oskanian
said. "The ball is clearly in Azerbaijan's court."
"Rejecting Azerbaijan's resolution, the international community has
indicated its support for the negotiating document on the table today which
has successfully managed to reconcile the two seemingly contradictory
principles of the Helsinki Final Act -- people's right to self-determination
and territorial integrity," explained Armenia's Foreign Minister. "This
document presents a unique opportunity for Azerbaijanis and Armenians to
move forward. This is precisely what sets the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
apart in our region and in Europe and makes it sui generis, not only because
of its legal and historical context, but also because of the innovative
negotiating approach to finding a realistic, lasting resolution."
Earlier the same day, had met with the co-chairs of the Minsk Group, who had
discussed the possibility of the resumption of talks, the UN resolution and
the situation on the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact.
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Armenia
Tel. + 37410 544041. ext. 202
Fax. + 37410 565601
e-mail: [email protected]
web: www.armeniaforeignministry.am
Overwhelming Majority of UN Member States Do Not Support Azerbaijan's
Position on Nagorno Karabakh
On Friday March 14, the United Nations General Assembly voted on a draft
resolution introduced by Azerbaijan in which Azerbaijan attempted to secure
international support for its own desired outcome for the Nagorno Karabakh
resolution process.
The OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair countries - US, France and the Russian
Federation - voted against the resolution as did Armenia and a few other
countries. Over 150 countries abstained or did not vote. Only 39 countries
supported the resolution, out of organizational affinity with either GUAM or
the Organization of Islamic Conference.
Although the non-binding resolution passed the General Assembly, the
rejection of Azerbaijan's position by an overwhelming majority is a
barometer of the mood of the international community on this issue.
"I hope Azerbaijan got the message from the international community. Taking
the lead of the co-chairs, a majority of member states repelled the
one-sided approach," said Armenia's Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian.
Minister Oskanian characterized the resolution as hypocritical. "On the one
hand, in an effort to disinform member states, the resolution included a
paragraph that supports the OSCE Minsk Process. On the other hand,
Azerbaijan blatantly ignored the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs position. The
co-chair countries had made clear they would not support the resolution and
in fact voted against the resolution."
"Now we wonder what Azerbaijan's next move will be," he said. "We question
whether this resolution was intended to derail the negotiating process or
whether they got the clear message and will return to the negotiating table
to work on a negotatied, compromise lasting solution."
At a press conference earlier in the week, Minister Oskanian had stated that
President-Elect Serge Sargisian would be prepared to meet with the
Azerbaijani President at the earliest possibility, if the co-chairs find
this useful and if Azerbaijan accepts. "This opportunity exists," Oskanian
said. "The ball is clearly in Azerbaijan's court."
"Rejecting Azerbaijan's resolution, the international community has
indicated its support for the negotiating document on the table today which
has successfully managed to reconcile the two seemingly contradictory
principles of the Helsinki Final Act -- people's right to self-determination
and territorial integrity," explained Armenia's Foreign Minister. "This
document presents a unique opportunity for Azerbaijanis and Armenians to
move forward. This is precisely what sets the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
apart in our region and in Europe and makes it sui generis, not only because
of its legal and historical context, but also because of the innovative
negotiating approach to finding a realistic, lasting resolution."
Earlier the same day, had met with the co-chairs of the Minsk Group, who had
discussed the possibility of the resumption of talks, the UN resolution and
the situation on the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact.