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Trend, Azerbaijan
Dec 23 2011
Azerbaijan may consider replacing France in OSCE Minsk Group
23 December 2011, 17:51 (GMT+04:00) Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 23 / Trend S.Agayeva/
Azerbaijan may consider France's replacement in the OSCE Minsk Group
by another state in case French parliament finally adopts a bill
criminalizing denial of the so called "Armenian genocide", said a
member of Trend Expert Council, a political scientist Fikret Sadykhov.
If French president Sarkozy approves the bill, Azerbaijan will be able
to raise the issue of France's replacement by another leading European
state in the OSCE Minsk Group. The EU has the countries such as
Germany and UK, I mean there is no lack in countries which would
address the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict more
impartially, Sadykhov told Trend Friday.
On Thursday, the French parliament adopted a bill criminalizing denial
of the so-called "Armenian Genocide".
Some 45 out of 577 French MPs participated in the voting, 38 of which
voted for, while 7 voted against the adoption of the bill.
The bill sets a punishment of up to one year in prison and a fine of
45,000 euro for those who deny the so-called "Armenian Genocide".
Sadykhov characterized this move of the French lawmakers as
"absolutely ungrounded and unintelligible", particularly in the light
of current political situation.
He said France should not have taken such a step.
Of course, it will exacerbate situation generally and will affect
relations between France and Turkey. France will lose more than it
gain. France may now be subjected to criticism. France did everything
to worsen relations with Turkey. It will definitely affect relations
between Azerbaijan and France, Sadykhov noted.
According to Sadykhov, France being a leading state of the EU and
member of the UN Security Council pretending to mediate in the OSCE
Minsk Group, loses its objective role, its impartiality when
considering such issues and conflicts.
He said people in Azerbaijan have always understood that France is
quite partial in the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
This was seen in French officials' many statements toward the conflict
and though official Paris supports the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan, incumbent authorities of France nevertheless showed
themselves as Armenia's ally and particularly it was seen when
president Sarkozy visited Yerevan and called Armenia France's
"sister". It was political nonsense to hear from the president of the
country that should take impartial position toward the conflict,
Sadykhov said.
Of course, Azerbaijan is not satisfied with the OSCE Minsk group, and
France's actions aggravate situation, Sadykhov noted.
In due time such a situation arose in France in the presidency of
Jacques Chirac who was wise and strong enough to refuse to approve
similar bill, a political scientist reminded adding that in current
situation role of the president himself in executive power of France
is very important.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the adoption by the
French National Assembly of a draft law introducing a ban on the
denial of the so-called "Armenian genocide".
"Azerbaijan states that this step contradicts the basic principles of
democracy in the European space - freedom of speech and opinion is at
odds with the obligations of the rights and fundamental freedoms taken
by France," the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said in an official
statement issued on Thursday.
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.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Dec 23 2011
Azerbaijan may consider replacing France in OSCE Minsk Group
23 December 2011, 17:51 (GMT+04:00) Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 23 / Trend S.Agayeva/
Azerbaijan may consider France's replacement in the OSCE Minsk Group
by another state in case French parliament finally adopts a bill
criminalizing denial of the so called "Armenian genocide", said a
member of Trend Expert Council, a political scientist Fikret Sadykhov.
If French president Sarkozy approves the bill, Azerbaijan will be able
to raise the issue of France's replacement by another leading European
state in the OSCE Minsk Group. The EU has the countries such as
Germany and UK, I mean there is no lack in countries which would
address the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict more
impartially, Sadykhov told Trend Friday.
On Thursday, the French parliament adopted a bill criminalizing denial
of the so-called "Armenian Genocide".
Some 45 out of 577 French MPs participated in the voting, 38 of which
voted for, while 7 voted against the adoption of the bill.
The bill sets a punishment of up to one year in prison and a fine of
45,000 euro for those who deny the so-called "Armenian Genocide".
Sadykhov characterized this move of the French lawmakers as
"absolutely ungrounded and unintelligible", particularly in the light
of current political situation.
He said France should not have taken such a step.
Of course, it will exacerbate situation generally and will affect
relations between France and Turkey. France will lose more than it
gain. France may now be subjected to criticism. France did everything
to worsen relations with Turkey. It will definitely affect relations
between Azerbaijan and France, Sadykhov noted.
According to Sadykhov, France being a leading state of the EU and
member of the UN Security Council pretending to mediate in the OSCE
Minsk Group, loses its objective role, its impartiality when
considering such issues and conflicts.
He said people in Azerbaijan have always understood that France is
quite partial in the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
This was seen in French officials' many statements toward the conflict
and though official Paris supports the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan, incumbent authorities of France nevertheless showed
themselves as Armenia's ally and particularly it was seen when
president Sarkozy visited Yerevan and called Armenia France's
"sister". It was political nonsense to hear from the president of the
country that should take impartial position toward the conflict,
Sadykhov said.
Of course, Azerbaijan is not satisfied with the OSCE Minsk group, and
France's actions aggravate situation, Sadykhov noted.
In due time such a situation arose in France in the presidency of
Jacques Chirac who was wise and strong enough to refuse to approve
similar bill, a political scientist reminded adding that in current
situation role of the president himself in executive power of France
is very important.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the adoption by the
French National Assembly of a draft law introducing a ban on the
denial of the so-called "Armenian genocide".
"Azerbaijan states that this step contradicts the basic principles of
democracy in the European space - freedom of speech and opinion is at
odds with the obligations of the rights and fundamental freedoms taken
by France," the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said in an official
statement issued on Thursday.
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.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress