ArmInfo. The main task of the OSCE Minsk Group mediators in New York is to create conditions in which Ilham Aliyev will have no choice but to return to the negotiating table. Head of the Analytical Centre on Globalization and Regional Cooperation Stepan Grigoryan expressed this opinion to ArmInfo.
"Without Armenia, without Azerbaijan, the restoration of the negotiation process within the MG is impossible. Therefore, everything was done in New York to convince and force Baku to return to the negotiating table. And we see that the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister has already met with the mediators there. In my opinion, the resumption of negotiations under the auspices of the OSCE is the main goal of the United States, first of all," he said.
In a joint statement dated September 24, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs reaffirmed their commitment to continue working with the parties to the conflict to find comprehensive solutions to the remaining Karabakh issues. The co-chairs assessed the first meeting of the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan after last year's war as a sign of the two countries' determination to resume the peace process through direct dialogue. However, the very next day, Ilham Aliyev said that the Karabakh issue had been resolved. "We have not received any proposals from the Minsk Group after last year's war. And since there are no initiatives, it is inappropriate to talk about the activities of the mediators," he said.
In any case, in Grigoryan's opinion, the main thing is not what solution the co-chairs will offer to the parties to the conflict, and not their reaction. The main thing is to forcibly return Aliyev to the negotiating table with the agenda for determining the status of Artsakh, which will already become a great victory for the international community, primarily for France and the United States. In this light, the political scientist is also concerned about the position of Russia, which, in his opinion, considers the status issue of secondary importance.
The political scientist considers the bill on Azerbaijan recently adopted by the US House of Representatives in line with the previous statements of the US Department of State and the US President. Grigoryan believes that the purpose of these steps by the American administration is to remind Baku and Ankara of the absence of a statute of limitations for their crimes. That their crimes during last year's aggression against Artsakh will sooner or later receive adequate punishment.
On September 23, the US House of Representatives adopted a bill on Azerbaijan and the conflict in Artsakh. In a document drawn up by Tony Cardenas, Adam Schiff and Brad Sherman, Azerbaijan was required to immediately release all Armenian prisoners and hostages. And the US Secretary of Defense is responsible for submitting a report on Azerbaijan's war crimes, including the use of prohibited weapons. And also the use of American technologies in the combat Turkish UAVs involved in Artsakh.