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What `Meaningful Movement' Do the Mediators Expect From Serzh Sargsyan?
March 6 2013
The mediators try to ensure the continuation of the Nagorno-Karabakh
negotiating process Eduard Nalbandyan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Armenia, met with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs,
as well as Andrzej Kasprzyk, the personal representative of the OSCE
Chairperson-in-Office, in Paris on Sunday. According to the statement
released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nalbandyan drew the
co-chairs' attention to the fact that not only had the Azerbaijani
side not made public the joint press releases agreed on during the
previous two meetings of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Armenia
and Azerbaijan with the co-chairs in Paris, but it had also made
statements, which had nothing to do with the discussed issues, in an
already established style. `It has already become a custom that
Azerbaijan declines the proposals made by the co-chairs and then
expresses concern about the negotiating process,' the Armenian Foreign
Minister stated. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Armenia reasserted that Armenia would make further efforts, along with
the co-chairs, aiming at the exceptionally peaceful settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs released a
statement on the results of a meeting with Nalbandyan, as well as a
meeting with the Azeri Foreign Minister, Elmar Mamedyarov, on March 2.
`The Co-Chairs repeated their concerns regarding the issue of civilian
flights to Nagorno-Karabakh and the recent violence on the Line of
Contact. They also discussed ideas to strengthen the ceasefire,' the
co-chairs' statement reads. The co-chairs also informed that they will
travel to the region in the next few weeks `to discuss with the
Presidents next steps aimed at reaching a peaceful resolution of the
conflict.' On March 2, US President Barack Obama congratulated Serzh
Sargsyan on his reelection. According to the press release on the
Armenian President's official website, Obama's letter reads: `We will
continue to strongly support progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process, which requires meaningful movement toward a settlement that
provides lasting peace and security. We also want to continue our work
to promote the eventual normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.
Your reelection presents opportunities to advance the relationship
between our two countries and to build your legacy as a leader who
solidifies Armenia's reforms and furthers the cause of peace for your
people and the people of your region.' Pointing out a set of
priorities in the congratulatory letter, Washington expects that
Armenia would make `meaningful movement' toward the conflict
settlement within the framework of the Nagorno-Karabakh negotiating
process. In other words, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair country hints
at a change of status quo based on the Madrid Principles. Whereas
after Ramil Safarov, an Azeri murderer, was extradited to Azerbaijan
and was heroized at the state level, the negotiating process has been,
to put mildly, in strong confusion. Let us remind that on February 25,
John Kerry, the US Secretary of State, congratulated S. Sargsyan on
his reelection and also talked about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement, stating: `I also remain committed to helping your country
find a peaceful, negotiated solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
and I ask that you continue to give the Minsk Group Co-Chairs your
full support. We cannot be satisfied with the status quo: we must
seize this moment to pursue meaningful progress in the peace process.'
Earlier, François Hollande, the president of another OSCE Minsk Group
co-chair country, France, had sent a congratulatory letter, which
read: `After the elections, I also reiterate my resolve to do
everything possible to achieve peace and stability in the South
Caucasus. France - a Co-Chair of the Minsk Group and Armenia's friend
- remains committed to assist in the long overdue peaceful and just
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.' Such statements and
letters have certainly been made public many times in the recent
years, and of course, it will be an exaggeration to say based on these
letters that some steps, which will change the situation, can be
expected in the near future. Probably, the mediators try to save the
negotiating process and ensure the continuation of negotiations in the
format of the Minsk Group co-chairs, which really is under threat. By
the way, another interesting fact; Azerbaijan has been complaining
about the effectiveness of the OSCE Minsk Group for years, even the
issue of whether its existence was appropriate or not has often been
raised. Yesterday Raffi Hovhannisyan made a statement in Freedom
Square, which will probably not be disregarded by international
organizations, diplomats, and experts. He said that the Minsk Group
co-chair countries - the Russian Federation, France and the United
States - `given their narrow geopolitical interests, took an
anti-democratic and disgraceful action, recognizing an illegal,
illegitimate president.' `It is still not too late, and I am ready to
meet with them, from Obama to Vladimirovich, and allow them to be so
grand as to correct the mistake that they made. However, unless they
do that, it will be impossible to recognize the functions of the Minsk
Group and their well-known principles, which are obsolete,
unnecessary, and void,' the Heritage Party leader stated. EMMA
GABRIELYAN Aravot Daily
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/03/06/152788/
© 1998 - 2013 Aravot - News from Armenia
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
March 6 2013
The mediators try to ensure the continuation of the Nagorno-Karabakh
negotiating process Eduard Nalbandyan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Armenia, met with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs,
as well as Andrzej Kasprzyk, the personal representative of the OSCE
Chairperson-in-Office, in Paris on Sunday. According to the statement
released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nalbandyan drew the
co-chairs' attention to the fact that not only had the Azerbaijani
side not made public the joint press releases agreed on during the
previous two meetings of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Armenia
and Azerbaijan with the co-chairs in Paris, but it had also made
statements, which had nothing to do with the discussed issues, in an
already established style. `It has already become a custom that
Azerbaijan declines the proposals made by the co-chairs and then
expresses concern about the negotiating process,' the Armenian Foreign
Minister stated. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Armenia reasserted that Armenia would make further efforts, along with
the co-chairs, aiming at the exceptionally peaceful settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs released a
statement on the results of a meeting with Nalbandyan, as well as a
meeting with the Azeri Foreign Minister, Elmar Mamedyarov, on March 2.
`The Co-Chairs repeated their concerns regarding the issue of civilian
flights to Nagorno-Karabakh and the recent violence on the Line of
Contact. They also discussed ideas to strengthen the ceasefire,' the
co-chairs' statement reads. The co-chairs also informed that they will
travel to the region in the next few weeks `to discuss with the
Presidents next steps aimed at reaching a peaceful resolution of the
conflict.' On March 2, US President Barack Obama congratulated Serzh
Sargsyan on his reelection. According to the press release on the
Armenian President's official website, Obama's letter reads: `We will
continue to strongly support progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process, which requires meaningful movement toward a settlement that
provides lasting peace and security. We also want to continue our work
to promote the eventual normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.
Your reelection presents opportunities to advance the relationship
between our two countries and to build your legacy as a leader who
solidifies Armenia's reforms and furthers the cause of peace for your
people and the people of your region.' Pointing out a set of
priorities in the congratulatory letter, Washington expects that
Armenia would make `meaningful movement' toward the conflict
settlement within the framework of the Nagorno-Karabakh negotiating
process. In other words, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair country hints
at a change of status quo based on the Madrid Principles. Whereas
after Ramil Safarov, an Azeri murderer, was extradited to Azerbaijan
and was heroized at the state level, the negotiating process has been,
to put mildly, in strong confusion. Let us remind that on February 25,
John Kerry, the US Secretary of State, congratulated S. Sargsyan on
his reelection and also talked about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement, stating: `I also remain committed to helping your country
find a peaceful, negotiated solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
and I ask that you continue to give the Minsk Group Co-Chairs your
full support. We cannot be satisfied with the status quo: we must
seize this moment to pursue meaningful progress in the peace process.'
Earlier, François Hollande, the president of another OSCE Minsk Group
co-chair country, France, had sent a congratulatory letter, which
read: `After the elections, I also reiterate my resolve to do
everything possible to achieve peace and stability in the South
Caucasus. France - a Co-Chair of the Minsk Group and Armenia's friend
- remains committed to assist in the long overdue peaceful and just
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.' Such statements and
letters have certainly been made public many times in the recent
years, and of course, it will be an exaggeration to say based on these
letters that some steps, which will change the situation, can be
expected in the near future. Probably, the mediators try to save the
negotiating process and ensure the continuation of negotiations in the
format of the Minsk Group co-chairs, which really is under threat. By
the way, another interesting fact; Azerbaijan has been complaining
about the effectiveness of the OSCE Minsk Group for years, even the
issue of whether its existence was appropriate or not has often been
raised. Yesterday Raffi Hovhannisyan made a statement in Freedom
Square, which will probably not be disregarded by international
organizations, diplomats, and experts. He said that the Minsk Group
co-chair countries - the Russian Federation, France and the United
States - `given their narrow geopolitical interests, took an
anti-democratic and disgraceful action, recognizing an illegal,
illegitimate president.' `It is still not too late, and I am ready to
meet with them, from Obama to Vladimirovich, and allow them to be so
grand as to correct the mistake that they made. However, unless they
do that, it will be impossible to recognize the functions of the Minsk
Group and their well-known principles, which are obsolete,
unnecessary, and void,' the Heritage Party leader stated. EMMA
GABRIELYAN Aravot Daily
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/03/06/152788/
© 1998 - 2013 Aravot - News from Armenia
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress