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AZERBAIJANI TOP OFFICIAL: DOUBLE STANDARDS APPLIED IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT
Trend
Dec 8 2011
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan calls on the OSCE Minsk Group member states to abandon
double standards in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Head of
the Foreign Relations Department at the Azerbaijani Presidential
Administration Novruz Mammadov told Trend on Thursday. He was
commenting on the outcome of the OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting
held in Vilnius.
He said it is disappointing that some Western countries, OSCE member
states, international organizations, and co-chair countries, analyzing
the processes occurring in the 21st century, and considering the
fact that this conflict is a great threat to the European security,
approach it within the norms of international law created by them.
"I think they should give up an offer "agree by yourselves, so that
we could support you", Mammadov said.
He said that they should themselves realize that making such proposals,
supporting the Armenian side by various ways, holding various secret
negotiations with it, various proposals, bringing together various
ministers and signing protocols with them, etc., does not help the
common deal - resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Unfortunately, today double standards are evident in many global
processes, including in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Mammadov said.
The OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting in Vilnius, held on the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, was to say its say,
he added.
"In the document adopted by the organization the co-chairs encouraged
the parties on resolving the conflict to be more active. And this
is natural, since the OSCE has a reason for such an appeal. In the
process of negotiations Azerbaijan has taken all the positive steps
in the peace talks over the past seven years, whereas, it previously
hardly agreed to them. After Azerbaijan accepted the Madrid principles
and defined confidence-building measures in certain circumstances,
the Armenian side refuses all and does not want to join the confidence
building measures," Mammadov underlined.
At the same time, the Vilnius statement should not be the only step,
he added.
"OSCE member states, co-chair countries realize that no matter how
many steps are taken, how many statements are issued and proposals
are made, Armenia, as you see, does not renounce its evil plans,
attempting to delay the negotiation process and profit by all of the
opportunities for this purpose," Mammadov said.
The joint statement by the OSCE Minsk Group's three co-chair countries
and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict parties issued in Vilnius calls for
continuing negotiations to resolve the conflict within the Minsk Group.
With regard to the perspectives of the Azerbaijani and Armenian
presidents' meeting, Mammadov said that it is necessary to the
negotiation process in any case.
"It will be more difficult to resolve the conflict without it. Despite
the fact that Azerbaijan's will in the negotiation process is
focused on the peaceful settlement of the conflict, the country has
more patience. The country should return its territories back by
all means. Now crucial and important task associated with it falls
on the co-chairs. On the one hand, unresolved conflict imposes great
responsibility on Armenia. The Armenian leadership in the eyes of the
world confirms who and what they are. On the other hand, following
this way, they lead themselves to the edge of a collapse. They have
only one purpose - to extend their stay in power," Mammadov said.
Mammadov believes that it is necessary to continue the negotiation
process in any case.
However, he expressed concerns over Armenia's possible attempts to
delay the process.
"The co-chair countries are experiencing certain processes - financial
crisis and presidential elections and all these factors may influence
the negotiations. Azerbaijan is ready to continue the negotiation
process in all cases," Mammadov said.
With the hope for the efficiency of the co-chairs' activity, it is
necessary to take certain steps to organize such a meeting [Azerbaijani
and Armenian presidents]. From a theoretical point of view, such a
meeting within an informal CIS summit in Moscow is possible, since
the two presidents will attend it. There is a need for such a meeting,
Mammadov underlined.
"But were the co-chairs able to carry out sufficient work in this
regard? Is the Armenian side ready to take certain steps to continue
the negotiations?" he said.
With regard to possible involvement of new structures and organizations
to the negotiation process, Mammadov said of course, Azerbaijan has
not always pleased with the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group, but at
the same time, one should admit that the co-chairs are also trying
to address the problem.
"In fact, the Minsk Group represents diplomats from three countries
and they do not have such high mandates and resources. I believe
that the OSCE and these countries' leaders should grant them these
mandates. On the other hand, it is necessary to slightly change the
attitude as the conflict is a problem for the European security. As
you know, after the Second World War, the countries, which are now
entering this Minsk Group, prepared the so-called mechanism of norms
of international law to use them in interstate relations.
Unfortunately, today I observe some indifference to these norms of
international law and some doubt on the use of international law in
the activity of international organizations and the co-chairs. And I
cannot understand it. It is time to abandon the principle of "agree
by yourselves and we will support". The conflict has broken out, one
of the conflict sides has some responsibility, another side should
answer - it is necessary to define and express a position. In this
case, of course, it will be easy to reach resolution of the conflict,"
Mammadov said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.
The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. -
are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.
Trend
Dec 8 2011
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan calls on the OSCE Minsk Group member states to abandon
double standards in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Head of
the Foreign Relations Department at the Azerbaijani Presidential
Administration Novruz Mammadov told Trend on Thursday. He was
commenting on the outcome of the OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting
held in Vilnius.
He said it is disappointing that some Western countries, OSCE member
states, international organizations, and co-chair countries, analyzing
the processes occurring in the 21st century, and considering the
fact that this conflict is a great threat to the European security,
approach it within the norms of international law created by them.
"I think they should give up an offer "agree by yourselves, so that
we could support you", Mammadov said.
He said that they should themselves realize that making such proposals,
supporting the Armenian side by various ways, holding various secret
negotiations with it, various proposals, bringing together various
ministers and signing protocols with them, etc., does not help the
common deal - resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Unfortunately, today double standards are evident in many global
processes, including in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Mammadov said.
The OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting in Vilnius, held on the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, was to say its say,
he added.
"In the document adopted by the organization the co-chairs encouraged
the parties on resolving the conflict to be more active. And this
is natural, since the OSCE has a reason for such an appeal. In the
process of negotiations Azerbaijan has taken all the positive steps
in the peace talks over the past seven years, whereas, it previously
hardly agreed to them. After Azerbaijan accepted the Madrid principles
and defined confidence-building measures in certain circumstances,
the Armenian side refuses all and does not want to join the confidence
building measures," Mammadov underlined.
At the same time, the Vilnius statement should not be the only step,
he added.
"OSCE member states, co-chair countries realize that no matter how
many steps are taken, how many statements are issued and proposals
are made, Armenia, as you see, does not renounce its evil plans,
attempting to delay the negotiation process and profit by all of the
opportunities for this purpose," Mammadov said.
The joint statement by the OSCE Minsk Group's three co-chair countries
and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict parties issued in Vilnius calls for
continuing negotiations to resolve the conflict within the Minsk Group.
With regard to the perspectives of the Azerbaijani and Armenian
presidents' meeting, Mammadov said that it is necessary to the
negotiation process in any case.
"It will be more difficult to resolve the conflict without it. Despite
the fact that Azerbaijan's will in the negotiation process is
focused on the peaceful settlement of the conflict, the country has
more patience. The country should return its territories back by
all means. Now crucial and important task associated with it falls
on the co-chairs. On the one hand, unresolved conflict imposes great
responsibility on Armenia. The Armenian leadership in the eyes of the
world confirms who and what they are. On the other hand, following
this way, they lead themselves to the edge of a collapse. They have
only one purpose - to extend their stay in power," Mammadov said.
Mammadov believes that it is necessary to continue the negotiation
process in any case.
However, he expressed concerns over Armenia's possible attempts to
delay the process.
"The co-chair countries are experiencing certain processes - financial
crisis and presidential elections and all these factors may influence
the negotiations. Azerbaijan is ready to continue the negotiation
process in all cases," Mammadov said.
With the hope for the efficiency of the co-chairs' activity, it is
necessary to take certain steps to organize such a meeting [Azerbaijani
and Armenian presidents]. From a theoretical point of view, such a
meeting within an informal CIS summit in Moscow is possible, since
the two presidents will attend it. There is a need for such a meeting,
Mammadov underlined.
"But were the co-chairs able to carry out sufficient work in this
regard? Is the Armenian side ready to take certain steps to continue
the negotiations?" he said.
With regard to possible involvement of new structures and organizations
to the negotiation process, Mammadov said of course, Azerbaijan has
not always pleased with the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group, but at
the same time, one should admit that the co-chairs are also trying
to address the problem.
"In fact, the Minsk Group represents diplomats from three countries
and they do not have such high mandates and resources. I believe
that the OSCE and these countries' leaders should grant them these
mandates. On the other hand, it is necessary to slightly change the
attitude as the conflict is a problem for the European security. As
you know, after the Second World War, the countries, which are now
entering this Minsk Group, prepared the so-called mechanism of norms
of international law to use them in interstate relations.
Unfortunately, today I observe some indifference to these norms of
international law and some doubt on the use of international law in
the activity of international organizations and the co-chairs. And I
cannot understand it. It is time to abandon the principle of "agree
by yourselves and we will support". The conflict has broken out, one
of the conflict sides has some responsibility, another side should
answer - it is necessary to define and express a position. In this
case, of course, it will be easy to reach resolution of the conflict,"
Mammadov said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.
The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. -
are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.