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ARMENIA ADMONISHES AZERBAIJAN AT BSEC SUMMIT
Asbarez
Wednesday, June 27th, 2012
The BSEC Summit in Istanbul
ISTANBUL-Efforts by Azerbaijan to politicize the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation were thwarted when head of the Armenian delegation
admonished Azerbaijan for discussing the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
at a forum that "cannot become a platform for political discussions
and accusations."
During a presentation to the summit, Azerbaijan's President Ilham
Aliyev said conflict was a major barrier to the expansion of regional
cooperation and the deepening of economic relations.
"The conflict has not yet been resolved and is a threat not only to
economic cooperation but, in general, to peace and stability in the
region," said Aliyev.
In response Armenia's representative, Deputy Foreign Minister Ashot
Hovakimyan admonished the Azeri leader for his attempts to politicize
the regional economic summit.
"According to the basic documents of the BSEC, the organization should
stay in the limits of its economic mandate and cannot become a platform
for political discussions and accusations. The BSEC summit is not a
proper place to discuss the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The OSCE Minsk
Group is the only agreed format for the negotiations on the Karabakh
issue," said Hovakimyan.
Diplomatic sources told PanArmenian.am that the adoption of a final
declaration, which strengthened the resolve of members to states to
further their cooperation, was marred by efforts by Azerbaijan to add
amendments that would alter the focus and politicize the document in
its favor.
The same sources told PanArmenian.net that Turkey's high-ranking
officials, under pressure of the European Union, succeeded in
persuading Baku to withdraw its politically motivated provisions,
as the Armenian delegation would never sign the document that would
be detrimental to Yerevan.
The amendments were removed one by one, while the Turkish officials
were negotiatd with both the Armenian and Azerbaijani delegations,
according to the source.
The BSEC was established on June 25, 1992 with Albania, Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia,
Turkey and Ukraine as participating countries. In 2004 Serbia and
Montenegro also entered the cooperation group.
President Serzh Sarkisian, who did not attend the summit, issued
a written statement that was read at the gathering. The Armenian
president stressed that economic progress was impeded by closed
borders.
"I would like to reiterate that Armenia continues to adhere to the
principles and goals enshrined in the charter of the organization,
and always faithfully implements all decisions adopted by the
organization as well as agreements and memorandums signed by the
member states," said Sarkisian. "I am confident that in the face of
the thorny problems existing in the region, further enhancement of
the multilateral economic cooperation in the framework of the BSEC
will inevitably result in the facilitation of the political dialogue
between the member states and establishment of regional stability."
"There can be no implementation of economic programs in a multilateral
or bilateral format under closed borders. Unimpeded contact and
open borders, free movement of resources and equal conditions for
competition remain the main prerequisites for the development of
contemporary economic relations. Blockades and closed borders are not
only artificial obstacles for bilateral and multilateral cooperation,
but also unacceptable dividing lines on the political map of the 20th
century. The Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation has
adopted all these provisions, and we have to ensure their successful
implementation," explained Sarkisian.
Asbarez
Wednesday, June 27th, 2012
The BSEC Summit in Istanbul
ISTANBUL-Efforts by Azerbaijan to politicize the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation were thwarted when head of the Armenian delegation
admonished Azerbaijan for discussing the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
at a forum that "cannot become a platform for political discussions
and accusations."
During a presentation to the summit, Azerbaijan's President Ilham
Aliyev said conflict was a major barrier to the expansion of regional
cooperation and the deepening of economic relations.
"The conflict has not yet been resolved and is a threat not only to
economic cooperation but, in general, to peace and stability in the
region," said Aliyev.
In response Armenia's representative, Deputy Foreign Minister Ashot
Hovakimyan admonished the Azeri leader for his attempts to politicize
the regional economic summit.
"According to the basic documents of the BSEC, the organization should
stay in the limits of its economic mandate and cannot become a platform
for political discussions and accusations. The BSEC summit is not a
proper place to discuss the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The OSCE Minsk
Group is the only agreed format for the negotiations on the Karabakh
issue," said Hovakimyan.
Diplomatic sources told PanArmenian.am that the adoption of a final
declaration, which strengthened the resolve of members to states to
further their cooperation, was marred by efforts by Azerbaijan to add
amendments that would alter the focus and politicize the document in
its favor.
The same sources told PanArmenian.net that Turkey's high-ranking
officials, under pressure of the European Union, succeeded in
persuading Baku to withdraw its politically motivated provisions,
as the Armenian delegation would never sign the document that would
be detrimental to Yerevan.
The amendments were removed one by one, while the Turkish officials
were negotiatd with both the Armenian and Azerbaijani delegations,
according to the source.
The BSEC was established on June 25, 1992 with Albania, Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia,
Turkey and Ukraine as participating countries. In 2004 Serbia and
Montenegro also entered the cooperation group.
President Serzh Sarkisian, who did not attend the summit, issued
a written statement that was read at the gathering. The Armenian
president stressed that economic progress was impeded by closed
borders.
"I would like to reiterate that Armenia continues to adhere to the
principles and goals enshrined in the charter of the organization,
and always faithfully implements all decisions adopted by the
organization as well as agreements and memorandums signed by the
member states," said Sarkisian. "I am confident that in the face of
the thorny problems existing in the region, further enhancement of
the multilateral economic cooperation in the framework of the BSEC
will inevitably result in the facilitation of the political dialogue
between the member states and establishment of regional stability."
"There can be no implementation of economic programs in a multilateral
or bilateral format under closed borders. Unimpeded contact and
open borders, free movement of resources and equal conditions for
competition remain the main prerequisites for the development of
contemporary economic relations. Blockades and closed borders are not
only artificial obstacles for bilateral and multilateral cooperation,
but also unacceptable dividing lines on the political map of the 20th
century. The Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation has
adopted all these provisions, and we have to ensure their successful
implementation," explained Sarkisian.