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news.az, Azerbaijan
June 16 2011
Last chance for basic principles for Karabakh deal, say mediators
Thu 16 June 2011 05:49 GMT | 1:49 Local Time
The Karabakh mediators will have to go back to the drawing board if
Armenia and Azerbaijan do not accept the Basic Principles for a
settlement.
The issue was discussed at hearings on the situation in the European
Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee on 15 June.
Two of the three co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, which is mediating
a settlement to the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, took part in the
hearings, Armenian news agency Mediamax reported.
French co-chair Bernard Fassier said in Brussels that, "If the sides
do not accept the Basic Principles on the basis of the Madrid
Proposals in the near future, the mediators will have to put forward a
new settlement concept."
He outlined the history of the settlement proposals, made over the
years by the Minsk Group co-chairs. In the late 1990s, the mediators
proposed the reintegration of Nagorno-Karabakh within Azerbaijan, but
this proposal was turned down by Armenia. In the early 2000s, an
effort was made to settle the conflict on the basis of the
legitimization of Nagorno-Karabakh's separation from Azerbaijan, which
was turned down by Baku, Fassier said.
Learning this lesson, the mediators decided to make a proposal to
resolve issues "the solution of which seemed possible".
These issues were set out as the Madrid Proposals - the liberation of
the territories adjacent to Nagorno-Karabakh, on condition of security
guarantees for Nagorno-Karabakh and its self-government, with the
status of Nagorno-Karabakh being determined in future through a
referendum, Fassier continued.
He said that the co-chairs had been working on this proposal in
2005-2006, and it had received the name of the Madrid Proposals in
late 2006. Bernard Fassier noted that the process had slowed down in
2008, "since recognition of Kosovo independence caused Azerbaijan's
concern".
He said the co-chairs had hoped to achieve a breakthrough in 2009, and
"exactly because of this the presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairing countries for the first time took upon themselves the
responsibility of publicizing the basic principles of the settlement".
Bernard Fassier said that "only in early 2010 did Azerbaijan give its
consent to the updated version of the proposals", after which the
mediators suggested a few modifications to the sides.
"Thus, today we have neared the end of the third cycle of Karabakh
conflict settlement," the diplomat said.
Addressing the European Parliament committee hearing, the US co-chair
of the OSCE Minsk Group, Robert Bradtke, described the current version
of the Basic Principles for a Karabakh settlement as "fair and
balanced" and said "we want the sides to take it as a basis for the
peace agreement".
Robert Bradtke said that the six main elements of the Basic Principles
were reflected in the statements of the Russian, US and French
presidents, made in 2009 and 2010 in L'Aquila and Muskoka. He
recalled that in their latest joint statement, made in Deauville in
May, the three presidents had called upon the sides to finalize the
Basic Principles during their upcoming summit in Kazan on 25 June.
Russia
Talking about the meeting in Kazan, Robert Bradtke noted the personal
role of Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev and Foreign Minister Sergey
Lavrov in the settlement process, Mediamax said.
He disagreed with the view of some MEPs that the Karabakh conflict
settlement "is in the hands of the Russians".
Answering questions from MEPs, the US diplomat said that "unique
cooperation" had formed between Russia, the USA and France.
"Yes, we have different interests, but we have a common goal not to
allow a new war. This goal is the main source of motivation for our
efficient cooperation. We work as a single team and do it
transparently,' Bradtke said.
He said that in his 37 years of diplomatic service he had never seen
such a level of cooperation as that among the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs.
Speaking of the effectiveness of the co-chairs' work, the US mediator
said: "The most important thing we have achieved is to not allow a new
war."
Drones
In response to comments that Russia is arming the conflict sides,
Bernard Fassier said "it is not Russia, but another country" that has
helped Azerbaijan produce unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), Mediamax
said.
The other country is Israel. Azad Systems, a joint venture between
Azerbaijan's Defence Industry Ministry and Israeli manufacturer
Aeronautics, has already started production of UAVs in Azerbaijan with
60 to be commissioned by the ministry this year.
Robert Bradtke said that the USA had nothing to do with UAV production
in Azerbaijan.
Bernard Fassier noted that Azerbaijan's military budget was equal to
the entire state budget of Armenia.
EU
Addressing the hearing, Miroslav Lajcak, head of the department for
relations with the Western Balkans, Eastern Partnership and Russia at
the EU's External Action Service, said that the EU was in favour of
the withdrawal of snipers from the contact line separating Armenian
and Azerbaijani troops.
He said that the EU also urged the sides to refrain from holding
military exercise in the immediate proximity of the contact line,
according to Mediamax.
Lajcak, who recently visited the conflict region, said that "the EU
should send clearer signals on the non-use of force and the
exclusiveness of a peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict".
He said that the EU fully supported the OSCE Minsk Group.
Lajcak said that if a peace agreement were signed, the EU would be
ready to allocate "significant means" for post-conflict rehabilitation
of the region.
The EU renders assistance to the establishment of contacts between the
societies of Armenia and Azerbaijan and has already spent around 2m
euro on these programs, Lajcak said.
"The EU promotes democratization and supremacy of the law in Armenia
and Azerbaijan though the Neighbourhood policy. We launched
negotiations on Association Agreements, by means of which the
countries will become closer to the EU, and their societies will
become more democratic and open."
Background
On the eve of the committee meeting, an article "Nagorno-Karabakh - an
unresolved conflict in South Caucasus" was published on the European
Parliament website.
Setting out the background to the conflict, it said: "Nagorno-Karabakh
is a territory within the recognized borders of Azerbaijan with an
ethnic Armenian majority. The region was ravaged by war between 1992
and 1994 and international mediation still has not yet established a
lasting peace."
The article notes that, "The region is an ethnically homogenous
Armenian enclave within the territory of Azerbaijan with a population
of around 140,000." It does not mention, however, that the homogeneity
came about only because the ethnically Azerbaijani population of
Karabakh was forced to flee during the war.
"The region claims statehood, but is not recognized even by Armenia.
Despite the ceasefire, tensions still run high, there are acts of
violence and many fear Azerbaijan's military may challenge the status
quo," the article notes.
Looking at attempts to resolve the conflict, the article notes four of
the OSCE Minsk Group's six principles for a settlement, now known as
the Madrid Principles or Basic Principles.
The full six principles are:
-the return of the territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh to
Azerbaijani control
-an interim status for Nagorno-Karabakh providing guarantees for
security and self-governance
-a corridor linking Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh
-future determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh
through a legally binding expression of will
-the right of all internally displaced persons and refugees to return
to their former places of residence
-international security guarantees that would include a peacekeeping operation.
The article quotes remarks from European Parliament President Jerzy
Buzek, made during his visit to Azerbaijan in May: "In my talks, I
underlined the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan
within internationally recognized borders. The EU strongly supports
the international effort to resolve the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh
centred around the framework of the Minsk Group and a peaceful
solution on the basis of the Madrid principles."
News.Az
From: A. Papazian
June 16 2011
Last chance for basic principles for Karabakh deal, say mediators
Thu 16 June 2011 05:49 GMT | 1:49 Local Time
The Karabakh mediators will have to go back to the drawing board if
Armenia and Azerbaijan do not accept the Basic Principles for a
settlement.
The issue was discussed at hearings on the situation in the European
Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee on 15 June.
Two of the three co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, which is mediating
a settlement to the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, took part in the
hearings, Armenian news agency Mediamax reported.
French co-chair Bernard Fassier said in Brussels that, "If the sides
do not accept the Basic Principles on the basis of the Madrid
Proposals in the near future, the mediators will have to put forward a
new settlement concept."
He outlined the history of the settlement proposals, made over the
years by the Minsk Group co-chairs. In the late 1990s, the mediators
proposed the reintegration of Nagorno-Karabakh within Azerbaijan, but
this proposal was turned down by Armenia. In the early 2000s, an
effort was made to settle the conflict on the basis of the
legitimization of Nagorno-Karabakh's separation from Azerbaijan, which
was turned down by Baku, Fassier said.
Learning this lesson, the mediators decided to make a proposal to
resolve issues "the solution of which seemed possible".
These issues were set out as the Madrid Proposals - the liberation of
the territories adjacent to Nagorno-Karabakh, on condition of security
guarantees for Nagorno-Karabakh and its self-government, with the
status of Nagorno-Karabakh being determined in future through a
referendum, Fassier continued.
He said that the co-chairs had been working on this proposal in
2005-2006, and it had received the name of the Madrid Proposals in
late 2006. Bernard Fassier noted that the process had slowed down in
2008, "since recognition of Kosovo independence caused Azerbaijan's
concern".
He said the co-chairs had hoped to achieve a breakthrough in 2009, and
"exactly because of this the presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairing countries for the first time took upon themselves the
responsibility of publicizing the basic principles of the settlement".
Bernard Fassier said that "only in early 2010 did Azerbaijan give its
consent to the updated version of the proposals", after which the
mediators suggested a few modifications to the sides.
"Thus, today we have neared the end of the third cycle of Karabakh
conflict settlement," the diplomat said.
Addressing the European Parliament committee hearing, the US co-chair
of the OSCE Minsk Group, Robert Bradtke, described the current version
of the Basic Principles for a Karabakh settlement as "fair and
balanced" and said "we want the sides to take it as a basis for the
peace agreement".
Robert Bradtke said that the six main elements of the Basic Principles
were reflected in the statements of the Russian, US and French
presidents, made in 2009 and 2010 in L'Aquila and Muskoka. He
recalled that in their latest joint statement, made in Deauville in
May, the three presidents had called upon the sides to finalize the
Basic Principles during their upcoming summit in Kazan on 25 June.
Russia
Talking about the meeting in Kazan, Robert Bradtke noted the personal
role of Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev and Foreign Minister Sergey
Lavrov in the settlement process, Mediamax said.
He disagreed with the view of some MEPs that the Karabakh conflict
settlement "is in the hands of the Russians".
Answering questions from MEPs, the US diplomat said that "unique
cooperation" had formed between Russia, the USA and France.
"Yes, we have different interests, but we have a common goal not to
allow a new war. This goal is the main source of motivation for our
efficient cooperation. We work as a single team and do it
transparently,' Bradtke said.
He said that in his 37 years of diplomatic service he had never seen
such a level of cooperation as that among the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs.
Speaking of the effectiveness of the co-chairs' work, the US mediator
said: "The most important thing we have achieved is to not allow a new
war."
Drones
In response to comments that Russia is arming the conflict sides,
Bernard Fassier said "it is not Russia, but another country" that has
helped Azerbaijan produce unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), Mediamax
said.
The other country is Israel. Azad Systems, a joint venture between
Azerbaijan's Defence Industry Ministry and Israeli manufacturer
Aeronautics, has already started production of UAVs in Azerbaijan with
60 to be commissioned by the ministry this year.
Robert Bradtke said that the USA had nothing to do with UAV production
in Azerbaijan.
Bernard Fassier noted that Azerbaijan's military budget was equal to
the entire state budget of Armenia.
EU
Addressing the hearing, Miroslav Lajcak, head of the department for
relations with the Western Balkans, Eastern Partnership and Russia at
the EU's External Action Service, said that the EU was in favour of
the withdrawal of snipers from the contact line separating Armenian
and Azerbaijani troops.
He said that the EU also urged the sides to refrain from holding
military exercise in the immediate proximity of the contact line,
according to Mediamax.
Lajcak, who recently visited the conflict region, said that "the EU
should send clearer signals on the non-use of force and the
exclusiveness of a peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict".
He said that the EU fully supported the OSCE Minsk Group.
Lajcak said that if a peace agreement were signed, the EU would be
ready to allocate "significant means" for post-conflict rehabilitation
of the region.
The EU renders assistance to the establishment of contacts between the
societies of Armenia and Azerbaijan and has already spent around 2m
euro on these programs, Lajcak said.
"The EU promotes democratization and supremacy of the law in Armenia
and Azerbaijan though the Neighbourhood policy. We launched
negotiations on Association Agreements, by means of which the
countries will become closer to the EU, and their societies will
become more democratic and open."
Background
On the eve of the committee meeting, an article "Nagorno-Karabakh - an
unresolved conflict in South Caucasus" was published on the European
Parliament website.
Setting out the background to the conflict, it said: "Nagorno-Karabakh
is a territory within the recognized borders of Azerbaijan with an
ethnic Armenian majority. The region was ravaged by war between 1992
and 1994 and international mediation still has not yet established a
lasting peace."
The article notes that, "The region is an ethnically homogenous
Armenian enclave within the territory of Azerbaijan with a population
of around 140,000." It does not mention, however, that the homogeneity
came about only because the ethnically Azerbaijani population of
Karabakh was forced to flee during the war.
"The region claims statehood, but is not recognized even by Armenia.
Despite the ceasefire, tensions still run high, there are acts of
violence and many fear Azerbaijan's military may challenge the status
quo," the article notes.
Looking at attempts to resolve the conflict, the article notes four of
the OSCE Minsk Group's six principles for a settlement, now known as
the Madrid Principles or Basic Principles.
The full six principles are:
-the return of the territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh to
Azerbaijani control
-an interim status for Nagorno-Karabakh providing guarantees for
security and self-governance
-a corridor linking Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh
-future determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh
through a legally binding expression of will
-the right of all internally displaced persons and refugees to return
to their former places of residence
-international security guarantees that would include a peacekeeping operation.
The article quotes remarks from European Parliament President Jerzy
Buzek, made during his visit to Azerbaijan in May: "In my talks, I
underlined the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan
within internationally recognized borders. The EU strongly supports
the international effort to resolve the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh
centred around the framework of the Minsk Group and a peaceful
solution on the basis of the Madrid principles."
News.Az
From: A. Papazian