BELARUS HOSTS "HELPFUL MEETING" ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH PEACE
Azernews, Azerbaijan
March 13 2015
13 March 2015, 15:37 (GMT+04:00)
By Mushvig Mehdiyev
Belarus has hosted a helpful meeting in view of reaching a peaceful
resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, one of the co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group said.
OSCE Minsk Group co-chair of the U.S., James Warlick hailed talks
between mediators and the Belarus government in Minsk on March 12,
attributing it as a positive step towards the resolution of the
Karabakh conflict.
"Meetings in Minsk on Nagorno-Karabakh peace were helpful. We look
forward to working with all members of the OSCE Minsk Group," Warlick
posted on his Twitter page.
Warlick and his counterparts at the OSCE Minsk Group, Pierre Andrieu
(France) and Igor Popov (Russia), joined by OSCE Chairman's Personal
Representative, Andrzej Kasprzyk, met in Minsk to devise means and
ways in which negotiations could be fruitful to solve the protracted
Nagorno-Karabakh issue.
The Belarus government expressed its readiness to host further meetings
in view of solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Following a brief excursus by mediators into the situation on the
conflict zone and the process of peace negotiations, Belarus Foreign
Minister, Uladzimir Makei said his country was even ready to provide
a venue to hold the final phase of the negotiation process.
"As we did in the Ukraine crisis, we are ready to contribute and offer
means to facilitate the swift resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict," Makei added, voicing his country's decisive support to
the OSCE activity.
Belarus's primary option in view of the recent situation around
Karabakh is to reduce tensions on the line of contact and to prevent
further casualties.
"Since we have close friendly relations with both countries, we welcome
the intensification of contacts between Armenian and Azerbaijani
leaders," Makei said.
Earlier last month, mediators departed for the Finnish capital city
Helsinki to hold talks with Suomi officials. Following the Helsinki
meeting, Pierre Andrieu promised on behalf of all mediators to exert
"all-out efforts" toward reducing tension in the conflict.
OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs' visit to Minsk, as well as to Helsinki,
is part of consecutive trips to Minsk Group member-states.
Serbia and Italy are reportedly the next destinations on the agenda.
True to their traditional calls, Minsk Group mediators have
persistently urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to take appropriate measures
toward achieving tranquility on the contact line as to prevent tensions
from flaring into fatal skirmishes. Mediators already emphasized that
a military solution to the conflict is not acceptable.
However, despite mediators' many efforts, the OSCE Minsk Group has
failed so far to manifest a breakthrough, especially in light of
Armenia's refusal to comply with UN resolutions. And because the group
has failed to set up an action plan in view of Armenia's defiance
before international law, talks have stalled, offering little to
no hope.
Azerbaijan's internationally recognized Nagorno-Karabakh territory
was turned into a battlefield and zone of aggravated tensions after
Armenia sent its troops to occupy Azerbaijan's lands in the early
1990s. As a result, 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally
recognized territory stands under military occupation of Armenia.
For the past two decades, and despite calls from the international
community, Armenia has refused to withdraw its troops and retreat
within its national borders.
http://www.azernews.az/azerbaijan/79030.html
Azernews, Azerbaijan
March 13 2015
13 March 2015, 15:37 (GMT+04:00)
By Mushvig Mehdiyev
Belarus has hosted a helpful meeting in view of reaching a peaceful
resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, one of the co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group said.
OSCE Minsk Group co-chair of the U.S., James Warlick hailed talks
between mediators and the Belarus government in Minsk on March 12,
attributing it as a positive step towards the resolution of the
Karabakh conflict.
"Meetings in Minsk on Nagorno-Karabakh peace were helpful. We look
forward to working with all members of the OSCE Minsk Group," Warlick
posted on his Twitter page.
Warlick and his counterparts at the OSCE Minsk Group, Pierre Andrieu
(France) and Igor Popov (Russia), joined by OSCE Chairman's Personal
Representative, Andrzej Kasprzyk, met in Minsk to devise means and
ways in which negotiations could be fruitful to solve the protracted
Nagorno-Karabakh issue.
The Belarus government expressed its readiness to host further meetings
in view of solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Following a brief excursus by mediators into the situation on the
conflict zone and the process of peace negotiations, Belarus Foreign
Minister, Uladzimir Makei said his country was even ready to provide
a venue to hold the final phase of the negotiation process.
"As we did in the Ukraine crisis, we are ready to contribute and offer
means to facilitate the swift resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict," Makei added, voicing his country's decisive support to
the OSCE activity.
Belarus's primary option in view of the recent situation around
Karabakh is to reduce tensions on the line of contact and to prevent
further casualties.
"Since we have close friendly relations with both countries, we welcome
the intensification of contacts between Armenian and Azerbaijani
leaders," Makei said.
Earlier last month, mediators departed for the Finnish capital city
Helsinki to hold talks with Suomi officials. Following the Helsinki
meeting, Pierre Andrieu promised on behalf of all mediators to exert
"all-out efforts" toward reducing tension in the conflict.
OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs' visit to Minsk, as well as to Helsinki,
is part of consecutive trips to Minsk Group member-states.
Serbia and Italy are reportedly the next destinations on the agenda.
True to their traditional calls, Minsk Group mediators have
persistently urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to take appropriate measures
toward achieving tranquility on the contact line as to prevent tensions
from flaring into fatal skirmishes. Mediators already emphasized that
a military solution to the conflict is not acceptable.
However, despite mediators' many efforts, the OSCE Minsk Group has
failed so far to manifest a breakthrough, especially in light of
Armenia's refusal to comply with UN resolutions. And because the group
has failed to set up an action plan in view of Armenia's defiance
before international law, talks have stalled, offering little to
no hope.
Azerbaijan's internationally recognized Nagorno-Karabakh territory
was turned into a battlefield and zone of aggravated tensions after
Armenia sent its troops to occupy Azerbaijan's lands in the early
1990s. As a result, 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally
recognized territory stands under military occupation of Armenia.
For the past two decades, and despite calls from the international
community, Armenia has refused to withdraw its troops and retreat
within its national borders.
http://www.azernews.az/azerbaijan/79030.html