Tuesday, March 16 2021 13:30

ArmInfo. The use of force by Azerbaijan in the context of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was a gross violation of OSCE commitments, including the Helsinki Final Act. Armenian Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazyan stated this at a briefing with the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde on March 16 in Yerevan.

At the same time, the Armenian minister expressed regret that the  planned visit of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office to Armenia in September  last year was postponed due to the large-scale military aggression of Azerbaijan against Artsakh.

"Throughout the war, the Azerbaijani armed forces, with the active  support of Turkey, committed massive atrocities, including ethnic  cleansing, and war crimes against the Armenians of Artsakh, in flagrant violations of international humanitarian law, deliberately attacking civilians, including women and children, the elderly. civil infrastructures and facilities, "the minister said. At the same time, he pointed out the fact that even four months after the end of the war, Azerbaijan continues to violate international humanitarian law and human rights, keeping prisoners of war and civilians.

"With the direct participation and leadership of Turkey, thousands of  militants who took part in the hostilities against Artsakh were  transferred to the region. This is not only a gross violation of international law, but also of OSCE commitments. It formed two dangerous precedents: an attempt to resolve the conflict by force and delivery from other regions to the region of responsibility of the OSCE militants. This should be condemned in the strictest manner, "Ayvazyan said.

At the same time, he expressed his conviction that the latest  processes in the region have shown the need for a strong  co-chairmanship of the Minsk Group, and a strong, cohesive OSCE as a body responsible for peace. In this context, he noted the important work of the Personal Representative of the Chairman-in-Office.

At the same time, Ayvazyan recalled that Armenia and the Armenian  people always stand for peace. "As a nation that survived the first  genocide in the 20th century, we know the price of peace and security. Armenia at all stages of the settlement advocated peace. And today we are also fully aware of the opportunities that real reconciliation can bring to the region. But peace is not only beautiful words. The destruction of Artsakh, the Armenian Hadrut, the destruction of Armenian settlements and the construction of Azerbaijani settlements in their place cannot give a long and lasting peace, "the chief diplomat of Armenia assured.

At the same time, he stated that in accordance with the statement of  November 9, 2020 and the deployment of peacekeepers, the  Nagorno-Karabakh conflict entered a new stage. Ayvazyan stressed that the Armenian side views the statement as a document aimed at restoring the truce. "Although it contains elements of a settlement, the most important thing is missing - the status based on the right of the Armenians of Artsakh to self-determination. The final settlement is possible only within the framework of the OSCE MG co-chairmanship," the RA FM stressed.

Ayvazyan also said that the agenda of the meeting also included a  wide range of issues on the Armenian-Swedish agenda. "Armenia and  Sweden are united by relations based on mutual respect and the prospects for raising them to a new level. Today's meeting was a good occasion to touch upon relations in various spheres and to study the potential for developing cooperation," he said, adding that Armenia highly appreciates Sweden's assistance in implementation of democratic reforms.

In his words, cooperation between Armenia and the European Union was  also discussed with Linde. "Accepting congratulations on the full  implementation of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced  Partnership Agreement, I expressed confidence that the full  application of CEPA will provide new opportunities for strengthening  cooperation with the EU countries," the Armenian Foreign Minister  summed up.