Tweet
MEETING IN ALMATY, KARABAKH ON THE AGENDA: OSCE REPS SIGNAL 'AZERBAIJAN'S UNCONSTRUCTIVE POSITION'
By Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow
Photo: www.armeniaforeignministry.am
19.07.10 | 13:57
Analysis
Karabakh settlement was among the issues discussed in Almaty with no
tangible result.
The OSCE Ministerial meeting in Almaty, Kazakhstan, late last week
had been presented in previews as a decisive one for the Karabakh
settlement. It had been assumed that the Armenian and Azerbaijani
sides would come to terms and possibly come close to drafting a
framework document. Western diplomats even suggested "keeping the
fingers crossed" to avoid "the evil eye."
Apparently, someone, after all, has spoilt it with his "evil eye".
Top representatives of the Foreign Ministries of Russia and France
and a senior official of the United States Department of State issued
a special statement after the meeting on Saturday.
They stated about the "unconstructive position of the Azerbaijani
side," said Armenia's Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan, commenting on
the statement by the Heads of Delegation of the Minsk Group Co-Chair
countries.
"The statement focuses on three principles for the settlement of the
conflict, namely refraining from the use of force or the threat of use
of force, self-determination and territorial integrity. The statement
points out that there is no selectively approaching these principles.
And Azerbaijan speaks only about territorial integrity," said Armenia's
foreign minister.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, for his part, stated
that the Armenian side raises such issues as the status of Karabakh,
"although at this stage it is impossible to work on this issue."
"First, it is necessary to solve the most difficult problem - the
occupied lands," said Mammadyarov, pointing out that the Azerbaijani
side agrees to open all communications if five southern districts
are returned to it. "This time it did not work, but we need to be
patient and continue the work," he added.
The statement also refers to "additional actions by the sides" that
are needed "to reinforce the ceasefire" and "armed incidents and
inflammatory public statements", which increase tension and do not
contribute to a solution to the conflict.
In fact, it looks like "freezing" the problem, at least temporarily.
The mediators have made sure that Azerbaijan does not intend to talk
about Karabakh's self-determination, and Armenia is not going to
withdraw troops without it.
What way out of this impasse will be found? At least the international
negotiators have warned Azerbaijan against even thinking about a
military operation.
Talks on association agreements between the three South Caucasus
countries, including Armenia, and the European Union have also begun
these days. Such talks between Brussels and Yerevan have opened today,
July 19. Remarkably, however, Azerbaijan has officially refused
to cooperate with Armenia within the framework of the EU Eastern
Partnership program.
Before that, on July 16, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
Celeste Wallander arrived in Armenia. In Yerevan she stressed that
the United States believes that there is no alternative to a peaceful
settlement of the Karabakh conflict.
Interestingly, on July 17, Armenia's Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan
visited Iran "at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart." The
visit also included meetings with the Islamic Republic's military
and political leadership.
All these developments suggest that the regional countries and the
states concerned have been preparing for any turn of events, including
a swift one.
From: A. Papazian
By Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow
Photo: www.armeniaforeignministry.am
19.07.10 | 13:57
Analysis
Karabakh settlement was among the issues discussed in Almaty with no
tangible result.
The OSCE Ministerial meeting in Almaty, Kazakhstan, late last week
had been presented in previews as a decisive one for the Karabakh
settlement. It had been assumed that the Armenian and Azerbaijani
sides would come to terms and possibly come close to drafting a
framework document. Western diplomats even suggested "keeping the
fingers crossed" to avoid "the evil eye."
Apparently, someone, after all, has spoilt it with his "evil eye".
Top representatives of the Foreign Ministries of Russia and France
and a senior official of the United States Department of State issued
a special statement after the meeting on Saturday.
They stated about the "unconstructive position of the Azerbaijani
side," said Armenia's Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan, commenting on
the statement by the Heads of Delegation of the Minsk Group Co-Chair
countries.
"The statement focuses on three principles for the settlement of the
conflict, namely refraining from the use of force or the threat of use
of force, self-determination and territorial integrity. The statement
points out that there is no selectively approaching these principles.
And Azerbaijan speaks only about territorial integrity," said Armenia's
foreign minister.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, for his part, stated
that the Armenian side raises such issues as the status of Karabakh,
"although at this stage it is impossible to work on this issue."
"First, it is necessary to solve the most difficult problem - the
occupied lands," said Mammadyarov, pointing out that the Azerbaijani
side agrees to open all communications if five southern districts
are returned to it. "This time it did not work, but we need to be
patient and continue the work," he added.
The statement also refers to "additional actions by the sides" that
are needed "to reinforce the ceasefire" and "armed incidents and
inflammatory public statements", which increase tension and do not
contribute to a solution to the conflict.
In fact, it looks like "freezing" the problem, at least temporarily.
The mediators have made sure that Azerbaijan does not intend to talk
about Karabakh's self-determination, and Armenia is not going to
withdraw troops without it.
What way out of this impasse will be found? At least the international
negotiators have warned Azerbaijan against even thinking about a
military operation.
Talks on association agreements between the three South Caucasus
countries, including Armenia, and the European Union have also begun
these days. Such talks between Brussels and Yerevan have opened today,
July 19. Remarkably, however, Azerbaijan has officially refused
to cooperate with Armenia within the framework of the EU Eastern
Partnership program.
Before that, on July 16, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
Celeste Wallander arrived in Armenia. In Yerevan she stressed that
the United States believes that there is no alternative to a peaceful
settlement of the Karabakh conflict.
Interestingly, on July 17, Armenia's Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan
visited Iran "at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart." The
visit also included meetings with the Islamic Republic's military
and political leadership.
All these developments suggest that the regional countries and the
states concerned have been preparing for any turn of events, including
a swift one.
From: A. Papazian