ARAZ AZIMOV: 'THE CO-CHAIRS ARE PRECLUDING THE MINSK GROUP FROM WORKING IN FULL STRENGTH'
Azeri-Press news agency (APA)
July 9, 2014 Wednesday
"Based on some evidence I have, I can tell you that the Minsk
Group Co-Chairs have concentrated the process in their hands and are
precluding the group from working in full strength", said Azerbaijani
Deputy FM Araz Azimov, APA reports.
The deputy minister said Azerbaijan witnessed this case several times:
"For instance, during the 20th anniversary of the Minsk process
in 2012, I called on both partner countries and other countries to
hold a high-level conference to celebrate this day. This initiative
received support from our administration. But some time later, we
saw that the co-chairs were unwilling to allow that. Perhaps, they
prefer to conduct their work within the trinity, far from pressure,
distracting international community. However, the other countries of
the Minsk Group-Turkey, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and others-show
interest in the process and build their interests in accordance with
the international principles of norms and law. Their positions rest
upon these principles. It would be not bad at all if Armenia feels
and realizes that its position is not in line with that of world
community".
Araz Azimov said he is against the replacement of the Minsk Group's
format with another one: "First of all, the most leading figures of
the world community are being represented at the Minsk Group.
Secondly, the UN Security Council's resolutions in 1993 confirm
the existence of the Minsk Group. Our positions are based on these
resolutions. It would be right to approach positions on a selective
basis. The resolutions should maintain their importance. The alteration
of the Minsk Group will harm those resolutions. And finally, the
Minsk Group's format eliminates the participation of Nagorno-Karabakh
Armenians in the process. Because both Azerbaijanis and Armenians,
as the communities of Nagorno-Karabakh, are able to participate in
this process at their own level. They do not participate in decision
making but are able to voice their positions".
Based these reasons, the deputy minister said the Minsk Group's
format meets the interests and positions of both Azerbaijan and other
countries involved in the process.
From: A. Papazian
Azeri-Press news agency (APA)
July 9, 2014 Wednesday
"Based on some evidence I have, I can tell you that the Minsk
Group Co-Chairs have concentrated the process in their hands and are
precluding the group from working in full strength", said Azerbaijani
Deputy FM Araz Azimov, APA reports.
The deputy minister said Azerbaijan witnessed this case several times:
"For instance, during the 20th anniversary of the Minsk process
in 2012, I called on both partner countries and other countries to
hold a high-level conference to celebrate this day. This initiative
received support from our administration. But some time later, we
saw that the co-chairs were unwilling to allow that. Perhaps, they
prefer to conduct their work within the trinity, far from pressure,
distracting international community. However, the other countries of
the Minsk Group-Turkey, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and others-show
interest in the process and build their interests in accordance with
the international principles of norms and law. Their positions rest
upon these principles. It would be not bad at all if Armenia feels
and realizes that its position is not in line with that of world
community".
Araz Azimov said he is against the replacement of the Minsk Group's
format with another one: "First of all, the most leading figures of
the world community are being represented at the Minsk Group.
Secondly, the UN Security Council's resolutions in 1993 confirm
the existence of the Minsk Group. Our positions are based on these
resolutions. It would be right to approach positions on a selective
basis. The resolutions should maintain their importance. The alteration
of the Minsk Group will harm those resolutions. And finally, the
Minsk Group's format eliminates the participation of Nagorno-Karabakh
Armenians in the process. Because both Azerbaijanis and Armenians,
as the communities of Nagorno-Karabakh, are able to participate in
this process at their own level. They do not participate in decision
making but are able to voice their positions".
Based these reasons, the deputy minister said the Minsk Group's
format meets the interests and positions of both Azerbaijan and other
countries involved in the process.
From: A. Papazian