Monday, March 11 2019 16:32

ArmInfo.The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, as mediators, have never been noticed of making harsh statements, even during the most serious clashes, for example,  the April 2016 war. Director of the Armenian branch of the Institute  of CIS Countries, political scientist Alexander Markarov  stated in  an interview with ArmInfo correspondent, referring to the latest  statement by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs.

As for the statement itself, according to the political scientist,  this is a peculiar presentation of those elements that are in the  "coin box" of intermediaries. On the other hand, according to the  expert, this is a reflection on the statements made in the recent  period regarding the participation of Artsakh in the negotiation  process, voiced by the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan. "The  statement contains a remark that any format changes are possible only  with the consent of all parties involved. The mediators' message is  that it is necessary to preserve the existing negotiation format for  resolving the Karabakh problem and continue negotiations on the  so-called Madrid principles," the political scientist said.

Markarov also believes that no breakthroughs should be expected from  the upcoming meeting of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashiyan and  Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and most likely the parties will  confirm their commitment to continue the peace process, stress the  need to reduce tensions on the front line and express readiness to  follow the path of preparing the population to peace, and nothing  else. 

To note, on March 9 Minsk Group co-chairs made a regular statement in  which they welcomed the agreement of the parties on the earliest  possible meeting of Aliyev-Pashinyan. At the same time, the co-  chairs declared that it was not advisable to change the negotiating  format, stressing that the conflict should be resolved on the basis  of the principles of non-use of force, the territorial integrity of  states and the right of peoples to self-determination. Nonetheless,  the co-chairs stated the need to include new elements providing for  the transfer of territories under the control of the Armenian side to  Azerbaijan, the return of refugees to these areas, the definition of  an interim status for Karabakh with a delayed referendum on  determining its final status.

Official Yerevan, responding to the statement of the co-chairs,  stressed that lately the tone of the statements of representatives of  various state agencies of Azerbaijan regarding the process of the  settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has noticeably toughened.  "A noticeable emphasis is placed on the principles of the use of  force or the threat of force, a military solution to the conflict,  statements of a maximalist, non- constructive nature, which is worthy  of condemnation. This is reflected in the last statement of the OSCE  Minsk Group co-chairs.  Numerous constructive statements made by the  Armenian side,including on the level of the Prime Minister remain  unanswered from the Azerbaijani side. Baku says that "the force  factor has always been and remains on the agenda", "the military  factor has a special place in solving the conflict, ""might goes  before the right", etc.) Moreover, against the background of the  statement about the upcoming meeting of the heads of state,  Azerbaijan begins offensive military exercises, without notifying  about it, violating the international commitments. While the Prime  Minister of Armenia from the rostrum of the European Parliament  declares the need to introduce a culture of dialogue, tolerance and  mutual concessions in our region, Baku voices threats that they can  prepare the population not for peace, but for the solution of the  conflict in other ways. Such rhetoric, as well as statements made  from a maximalist, non-constructive position, do not contribute to  the formation of an appropriate atmosphere for negotiations. Armenia  has repeatedly stated that it does not accept such approaches, as  well as coercion to negotiate at "gunpoint".

Armenia has always voiced its commitment and supported an exclusively  peaceful settlement of the conflict under the auspices of the OSCE  Minsk Group co-chairs, in which the security and status of Artsakh  are our priorities. A striking proof of our commitment is that the  peace process was not only not suspended after the Velvet Revolution  in Armenia, but also gained new momentum. The principles of creating  an atmosphere of trust, introducing mechanisms to reduce risks and  preventing incidents, and measures to strengthen mutual trust remain  relevant, enshrined in Dushanbe, and before that in the summits of  Vienna and St. Petersburg, remain relevant, "the statement by  Armenian Foreign Minister`s Spokesperson Anna Naghdalyan reads.

Baku also responded to the statement of the Minsk mediators.  "Azerbaijan welcomes the statement of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs,  which is a signal to Armenia. I would like to note that Azerbaijan is  committed to the negotiation process and is always ready for  substantive negotiations. The Azerbaijani side supports the efforts  of the co-chairs in the area of conflict resolution through intensive  negotiations aimed at achieving a result. Let us note, that Ilham  Aliyev and Nikol Pashinyan have already met three times, and the  foreign ministers four times. This statement of the Minsk Group  co-chairs serves as a signal for Armenia, and we welcome it. By  accepting the Minsk Group co-chairs, President Ilham Aliyev brought  to the attention the position of our country. Negotiations on the  settlement of the conflict are held between Armenia and Azerbaijan.  The format of the negotiations remains unchanged. Attempts to attract  the notorious regime created in the occupied territories of our  country to negotiate and change the format are unacceptable," the  official spokesperson for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, Leyla  Abdullayeva, commented on the statement by the co- chairs. 

She drew attention to the fact that the statement of the co-chairs  indicated the steps that should be taken in connection with the  settlement of the conflict. As one of the initial steps, liberation  of the territories adjacent to the Nagorno-Karabakh region of  Azerbaijan from occupation is envisaged, as well as the return of  internally displaced persons to their homes.  "As for the status of  Nagorno-Karabakh, it can become a topic of discussion without  violating the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Having repeatedly  stated its position on this issue, Azerbaijan stated that both  communities of Nagorno-Karabakh - Azerbaijanis and Armenians should  determine the status of this region within the framework of the  territorial integrity of our country. As is known, the principle of  self- determination of peoples should not violate the principle of  the territorial integrity of states. In a statement, the co-chairs  also adopted the Helsinki Final Act. This document notes the need for  "respect for the self-determination of peoples in accordance with the  principles and objectives of the UN Charter, consistent with the  norms of international law, including the territorial integrity of  states," the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesperson further notes.   As for the interested parties in the negotiation process to resolve  the conflict, they are the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of  the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, which have equal rights,  Abdullayeva summarized.