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OSCE SECRETARY GENERAL: NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT POSES ENORMOUS THREAT TO REGION'S SECURITY
Trend
July 9 2012
Azerbaijan
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict presents an enormous threat to the
region's security and stalls economic development in the South
Caucasus, the OSCE Secretary General, Lamberto Zannier, who is on
an official visit to Azerbaijan, said at a press briefing, following
his meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.
Zannier emphasized the need for political will in negotiating a
peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He stressed
that OSCE will continue working with the country in implementing its
OSCE commitments.
"Azerbaijan, which this year celebrates 20 years in the OSCE, plays an
important role in the work of our Organization, in politico-military,
economic and environmental and human rights-related areas," Zannier
said.
He stressed that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict presents an enormous
threat to the region's security and stalls economic development
in the South Caucasus. He voiced his support for the efforts of
the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the OSCE Chairperson's Personal
Representative in finding a negotiated solution to the conflict and
strengthening the ceasefire regime.
"The conflict will not be resolved by the use of force," Zannier said.
"Negotiations are the only way forward; and political goodwill and
the commitment of all those involved is an essential prerequisite
for finding a lasting peaceful solution."
The Secretary General said he was "seriously concerned" by the recent
incidents on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan and on the
contact line, which "marred the efforts to bring long-awaited peace
and stability to the people living in these areas".
All parties should refrain from the use or threat of force, abstain
from retaliatory measures, remove snipers from the line of contact
and implement the agreed confidence-building measures, including the
mechanism for investigating incidents on the front lines, Zannier
underlined.
He also said that the OSCE stood ready to assist in the implementation
of the agreement reached by the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to
develop people-to-people contacts and dialogue between the countries'
intelligentsia and academic and public circles.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven 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 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: Baghdasarian
Trend
July 9 2012
Azerbaijan
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict presents an enormous threat to the
region's security and stalls economic development in the South
Caucasus, the OSCE Secretary General, Lamberto Zannier, who is on
an official visit to Azerbaijan, said at a press briefing, following
his meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.
Zannier emphasized the need for political will in negotiating a
peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He stressed
that OSCE will continue working with the country in implementing its
OSCE commitments.
"Azerbaijan, which this year celebrates 20 years in the OSCE, plays an
important role in the work of our Organization, in politico-military,
economic and environmental and human rights-related areas," Zannier
said.
He stressed that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict presents an enormous
threat to the region's security and stalls economic development
in the South Caucasus. He voiced his support for the efforts of
the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the OSCE Chairperson's Personal
Representative in finding a negotiated solution to the conflict and
strengthening the ceasefire regime.
"The conflict will not be resolved by the use of force," Zannier said.
"Negotiations are the only way forward; and political goodwill and
the commitment of all those involved is an essential prerequisite
for finding a lasting peaceful solution."
The Secretary General said he was "seriously concerned" by the recent
incidents on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan and on the
contact line, which "marred the efforts to bring long-awaited peace
and stability to the people living in these areas".
All parties should refrain from the use or threat of force, abstain
from retaliatory measures, remove snipers from the line of contact
and implement the agreed confidence-building measures, including the
mechanism for investigating incidents on the front lines, Zannier
underlined.
He also said that the OSCE stood ready to assist in the implementation
of the agreement reached by the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to
develop people-to-people contacts and dialogue between the countries'
intelligentsia and academic and public circles.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven 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 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: Baghdasarian