ANDRZEJ KASPRZYK: NOTHING IS BEING DONE WITHOUT KARABAKH'S KNOWLEDGE
armradio.am
07.06.2011 18:14
"First of all, it's necessary to decrease the threat of war," Personal
Representative of the OSCE chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk said
in an interview with the Polish "Nowa Europa Wschodnia" (New Eastern
Europe), commenting on the situation in the Karabakh conflict zone.
Having participated in the peace talks for ten years, Kasprzyk says
the parties are closer to solving the issue today.
Before signing the final treaty, there is the question of the interim
status of Nagorno Karabakh. The special status cannot considerably
differ from the current status of Nagorno Karabakh, he said.
Speaking about concessions, Kasprzyk said after the signing of a
framework agreement it will be necessary to negotiate the details.
"There are still a number of unsolved issues. For, example, when we
are speaking about the corridor linking Armenia to Nagorno Karabakh,
it's clear that it should remain. Azerbaijan officially agrees to
this. However, it's necessary to come to an agreement on the details,
i.e. the width of the corridor or who should control it before the
peace deal is concluded."
According to Andrzej Kasprzyk, the conduct of a referendum is another
problem. "Armenians see it as a simple voting with the participation
of the population of Nagorno Karabakh as it was during the census
of 1989. Baku insists, in turn, that it should be held all over the
territory of Azerbaijan.
"The Karabakh conflict is not frozen. What is frozen is its
settlement. According to my assessment, 36 people have died on both
sides over the past year. I interfered in the situation several times,
when the exchange of fire could grow into large-scale confrontation.
Then I called Washington, Paris and Moscow to try to stop it together,"
Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office stated.
Speaking about the role of Moscow, Kasprzyk said Russia aims to
relieve the tension. "The whole Caucasus is mined today, the outburst
of the Karabakh conflict would further destabilize the situation in
the North Caucasus, he noted.
"Russians are doing business in both Armenia and Azerbaijan. Thus
they are trying to escape the hostility of any of the countries. The
black-and-white idea that Russia supports Armenians, while Turkey
backs Azerbaijan is too primitive," the diplomat stated.
According to Kasprzyk, nothing is being done without the consent
of Stepanakert. "They are always well-informed, their position is
being taken into consideration. When it comes to concrete results,
they should be accepted by Karabakh."
armradio.am
07.06.2011 18:14
"First of all, it's necessary to decrease the threat of war," Personal
Representative of the OSCE chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk said
in an interview with the Polish "Nowa Europa Wschodnia" (New Eastern
Europe), commenting on the situation in the Karabakh conflict zone.
Having participated in the peace talks for ten years, Kasprzyk says
the parties are closer to solving the issue today.
Before signing the final treaty, there is the question of the interim
status of Nagorno Karabakh. The special status cannot considerably
differ from the current status of Nagorno Karabakh, he said.
Speaking about concessions, Kasprzyk said after the signing of a
framework agreement it will be necessary to negotiate the details.
"There are still a number of unsolved issues. For, example, when we
are speaking about the corridor linking Armenia to Nagorno Karabakh,
it's clear that it should remain. Azerbaijan officially agrees to
this. However, it's necessary to come to an agreement on the details,
i.e. the width of the corridor or who should control it before the
peace deal is concluded."
According to Andrzej Kasprzyk, the conduct of a referendum is another
problem. "Armenians see it as a simple voting with the participation
of the population of Nagorno Karabakh as it was during the census
of 1989. Baku insists, in turn, that it should be held all over the
territory of Azerbaijan.
"The Karabakh conflict is not frozen. What is frozen is its
settlement. According to my assessment, 36 people have died on both
sides over the past year. I interfered in the situation several times,
when the exchange of fire could grow into large-scale confrontation.
Then I called Washington, Paris and Moscow to try to stop it together,"
Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office stated.
Speaking about the role of Moscow, Kasprzyk said Russia aims to
relieve the tension. "The whole Caucasus is mined today, the outburst
of the Karabakh conflict would further destabilize the situation in
the North Caucasus, he noted.
"Russians are doing business in both Armenia and Azerbaijan. Thus
they are trying to escape the hostility of any of the countries. The
black-and-white idea that Russia supports Armenians, while Turkey
backs Azerbaijan is too primitive," the diplomat stated.
According to Kasprzyk, nothing is being done without the consent
of Stepanakert. "They are always well-informed, their position is
being taken into consideration. When it comes to concrete results,
they should be accepted by Karabakh."