Tweet
NEGOTIATION CONCERNS: REMOVAL OF FRANCE FROM MINSK GROUP TROUBLING TO SOME
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
24.03.12 | 14:26
The document adopted by the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs
Committee on replacing France's mandate in the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group by that of
a European Union (EU) representative on March 22 is viewed to be
"a dangerous development" in Armenia, which is the result of "the
passive, retreating diplomacy adopted by the Armenian side."
The document has yet to be voted on at the plenary session of the
European Parliament, which is likely to take place in a month.
However, statements over its possible adoption have already been made.
There were speculations that France would be withdrawn from the
negotiation process and actions to achieve it had been taken long ago,
however this document was the first official step taken in this regard.
Azerbaijan has been against France's involvement in the Minsk Group
since the very beginning. Vafa Guluzade, who served as an advisor
to Azerbaijan's ex-president, has stated recently that "France
was fraudulently included in the Minsk Group, without Azerbaijan's
agreement."
A month ago when the bill criminalizing the denial of genocides was
brought to vote in France, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
stated that "It is high time to discuss the issue of removing France
from the OSCE Minsk Group."
"Either Turkey will have a place around this table, enjoying equal
membership, or France must leave here," Davutoglu said and made sure
that he would voice this issue at the European Parliament.
MP Naira Zohrabyan, Chairwoman of RA National Assembly's Standing
Committee on European Integration, says that it is a pity that "The
Council of Europe has made this decision under the pressure of the
Azeri lobby."
Meanwhile, MP Larisa Alaverdyan who has been dealing with the Karabakh
issue since the 1990s does not blame Azerbaijan, saying that "It is
the result of our being too passive."
"I do not want to blame any foreign minister; however, since 1992 the
Armenian side has adopted a passive position, and has taken the role
of the runner or even walker behind a train which has left long ago.
This is dangerous, and it is necessary to cease this passive
diplomacy," Alaverdyan told ArmeniaNow.
Political analyst Sergey Minasyan, deputy director of Caucasus
Institute, also considers the adoption of this document to be
"dangerous", however, "not a tragedy."
"Even if the worst scenario works - if the document is adopted,
France is a country which has a crucial role in the European Union,
and it will not lose its weight in the OSCE Minsk Group either,"
Minasyan concludes.
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
24.03.12 | 14:26
The document adopted by the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs
Committee on replacing France's mandate in the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group by that of
a European Union (EU) representative on March 22 is viewed to be
"a dangerous development" in Armenia, which is the result of "the
passive, retreating diplomacy adopted by the Armenian side."
The document has yet to be voted on at the plenary session of the
European Parliament, which is likely to take place in a month.
However, statements over its possible adoption have already been made.
There were speculations that France would be withdrawn from the
negotiation process and actions to achieve it had been taken long ago,
however this document was the first official step taken in this regard.
Azerbaijan has been against France's involvement in the Minsk Group
since the very beginning. Vafa Guluzade, who served as an advisor
to Azerbaijan's ex-president, has stated recently that "France
was fraudulently included in the Minsk Group, without Azerbaijan's
agreement."
A month ago when the bill criminalizing the denial of genocides was
brought to vote in France, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
stated that "It is high time to discuss the issue of removing France
from the OSCE Minsk Group."
"Either Turkey will have a place around this table, enjoying equal
membership, or France must leave here," Davutoglu said and made sure
that he would voice this issue at the European Parliament.
MP Naira Zohrabyan, Chairwoman of RA National Assembly's Standing
Committee on European Integration, says that it is a pity that "The
Council of Europe has made this decision under the pressure of the
Azeri lobby."
Meanwhile, MP Larisa Alaverdyan who has been dealing with the Karabakh
issue since the 1990s does not blame Azerbaijan, saying that "It is
the result of our being too passive."
"I do not want to blame any foreign minister; however, since 1992 the
Armenian side has adopted a passive position, and has taken the role
of the runner or even walker behind a train which has left long ago.
This is dangerous, and it is necessary to cease this passive
diplomacy," Alaverdyan told ArmeniaNow.
Political analyst Sergey Minasyan, deputy director of Caucasus
Institute, also considers the adoption of this document to be
"dangerous", however, "not a tragedy."
"Even if the worst scenario works - if the document is adopted,
France is a country which has a crucial role in the European Union,
and it will not lose its weight in the OSCE Minsk Group either,"
Minasyan concludes.