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POLITICAL WILL OF SIDES THE ONLY WAY TO NEGOTIATE PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO KARABAKH CONFLICT - OSCE HEAD
news.am
July 11, 2012 | 14:01
YEREVAN.- OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier comments on reforms
and developments of the OSCE as well as problems in the OSCE area in
an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am.
Lately, there has been a lot of discussion about the reforms and the
development of the OSCE. What work do you plan to implement in the
nearest future?
The OSCE is a unique organization - it is the largest regional security
organization bringing together 56 participating States with sometimes
opposite political views, and our goal is to serve as a platform
where they can meet, reconcile their differences and take consensus
decisions. However, in order for such a platform to be effective, it
needs to be as relevant as possible for its participants. This is why
when I took up the position of the OSCE Secretary General a year ago,
I put raising the effectiveness of the Organization high on the agenda.
Some progress has already been achieved. In order to effectively
counter such transnational threats as terrorism, organized crime,
drug trafficking we've created a special department within the OSCE
which deals especially with addressing such threats. We've been quite
active in raising the profile of the organization - both in the media,
and in relations with its international partners and with the research
community. Last December in Vilnius foreign ministers of all OSCE
participating States took an important decision on elements of the
conflict cycle in order to strengthen the OSCE's capabilities in
this area.
Together with breakthroughs, a number of serious problems persist in
the OSCE region. These include closed borders between participating
States of the Organization. How would you assess the continued
blockade of Armenia from the side of Turkey and linking the issue
of the normalization of relations with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement, and, in parallel, to the refusal of the official Ankara
to ratify the Armenian-Turkish protocols?
The ratification of the Armenia-Turkey protocols as such remains a
matter for the bilateral relations between the two countries. However,
the matter was raised in the OSCE Permanent Council on several
occasions by both countries and other participating States. We would
welcome any developments which would strengthen peace and stability
in the region.
Despite the appeals from the international community, in the first
place from the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, Azerbaijan refuses to
withdraw snipers from the Line of Contact, carries out provocations
and steps up the arms race. Are there mechanisms to force to a refusal
from attempts to resolve the problem by use of force, and create a
mechanism of investigating incidents on the line of contact?
No external player - be it OSCE or another body - can impose a solution
on the sides of the conflict or resolve it. Political will of the sides
is the only way to negotiate a peaceful solution. We will continue our
efforts to get the sides to withdraw snipers from the line of contact,
and to implement their commitment on the investigation of incidents on
the line of contact which the Presidents undertook in Sochi last year.
Are there possibilities for stepping up the work with "non-recognized
states" in the OSCE region?
It would be misleading to generalize the OSCE's interaction with
entities which are not internationally recognized as states, as each
format and mechanism for dealing with such cases is individually
conceived and internationally agreed.
Are you expecting new participating States to the Organization?
Specifically, what is the situation with Mongolia?
Mongolia applied to become an OSCE participating State in October
last year, and in December 2011 all 56 participating States in Vilnius
tasked the Irish Chairmanship to take forward the application. As part
of this effort, the Irish Presidency organized a familiarization trip
to Mongolia this June, in which I took part. The final decision on
Mongolia's application must be taken by a consensus decision of all
56 participating States.
Can the OSCE take any measures in order to prevent further exacerbation
of the conflict in Syria?
Syria is neither a participating State of the OSCE nor a Partner for
Co-operation. The situation in Syria is being dealt with in other
forums, most notably the UN Security Council. Naturally, situation
around Syria and differences in positions of some States can have
an impact on their interaction within the OSCE. We generally support
resolution of conflicts by peaceful means. However, the conflict in
Syria lies outside of the remit of the OSCE work and therefore the
OSCE is not in a position to take action in any way.
From: Baghdasarian
news.am
July 11, 2012 | 14:01
YEREVAN.- OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier comments on reforms
and developments of the OSCE as well as problems in the OSCE area in
an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am.
Lately, there has been a lot of discussion about the reforms and the
development of the OSCE. What work do you plan to implement in the
nearest future?
The OSCE is a unique organization - it is the largest regional security
organization bringing together 56 participating States with sometimes
opposite political views, and our goal is to serve as a platform
where they can meet, reconcile their differences and take consensus
decisions. However, in order for such a platform to be effective, it
needs to be as relevant as possible for its participants. This is why
when I took up the position of the OSCE Secretary General a year ago,
I put raising the effectiveness of the Organization high on the agenda.
Some progress has already been achieved. In order to effectively
counter such transnational threats as terrorism, organized crime,
drug trafficking we've created a special department within the OSCE
which deals especially with addressing such threats. We've been quite
active in raising the profile of the organization - both in the media,
and in relations with its international partners and with the research
community. Last December in Vilnius foreign ministers of all OSCE
participating States took an important decision on elements of the
conflict cycle in order to strengthen the OSCE's capabilities in
this area.
Together with breakthroughs, a number of serious problems persist in
the OSCE region. These include closed borders between participating
States of the Organization. How would you assess the continued
blockade of Armenia from the side of Turkey and linking the issue
of the normalization of relations with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement, and, in parallel, to the refusal of the official Ankara
to ratify the Armenian-Turkish protocols?
The ratification of the Armenia-Turkey protocols as such remains a
matter for the bilateral relations between the two countries. However,
the matter was raised in the OSCE Permanent Council on several
occasions by both countries and other participating States. We would
welcome any developments which would strengthen peace and stability
in the region.
Despite the appeals from the international community, in the first
place from the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, Azerbaijan refuses to
withdraw snipers from the Line of Contact, carries out provocations
and steps up the arms race. Are there mechanisms to force to a refusal
from attempts to resolve the problem by use of force, and create a
mechanism of investigating incidents on the line of contact?
No external player - be it OSCE or another body - can impose a solution
on the sides of the conflict or resolve it. Political will of the sides
is the only way to negotiate a peaceful solution. We will continue our
efforts to get the sides to withdraw snipers from the line of contact,
and to implement their commitment on the investigation of incidents on
the line of contact which the Presidents undertook in Sochi last year.
Are there possibilities for stepping up the work with "non-recognized
states" in the OSCE region?
It would be misleading to generalize the OSCE's interaction with
entities which are not internationally recognized as states, as each
format and mechanism for dealing with such cases is individually
conceived and internationally agreed.
Are you expecting new participating States to the Organization?
Specifically, what is the situation with Mongolia?
Mongolia applied to become an OSCE participating State in October
last year, and in December 2011 all 56 participating States in Vilnius
tasked the Irish Chairmanship to take forward the application. As part
of this effort, the Irish Presidency organized a familiarization trip
to Mongolia this June, in which I took part. The final decision on
Mongolia's application must be taken by a consensus decision of all
56 participating States.
Can the OSCE take any measures in order to prevent further exacerbation
of the conflict in Syria?
Syria is neither a participating State of the OSCE nor a Partner for
Co-operation. The situation in Syria is being dealt with in other
forums, most notably the UN Security Council. Naturally, situation
around Syria and differences in positions of some States can have
an impact on their interaction within the OSCE. We generally support
resolution of conflicts by peaceful means. However, the conflict in
Syria lies outside of the remit of the OSCE work and therefore the
OSCE is not in a position to take action in any way.
From: Baghdasarian