ArmInfo. Poland's Chairmanship of the OSCE in 2022 intends to promote and advance the rational, smart and flexible use of the OSCE's unique tools and negotiation formats. "We need to reinvigorate the debate about European security.
Let us start a process that will help us to uphold the Helsinki principles in full conformity with international law," OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Zbigniew Rau said in his address to the Permanent Council in Vienna, January 13.
During an exchange of views, Head of Armenian Mission, Ambassador Armen Papikyan spoke of the ongoing provocations by Azerbaijani troops along the line of contact with Artsakh and along the Armenian- Azerbaijani border, which resulted in casualties. He particularly focused on the provocation by Azerbaijani troops using artillery and drones on January 11, in Armenia's sovereign territory, which they occupied on May 12, 2021, after an incursion.
The provocation claimed the lives of three Armenian soldiers - Artur Mkhitaryan, Rudik Gharibyan and Vahan Babayan. The Armenian diplomat stressed that Baku's anti-Armenian statements and "revelations" confirm the border clashes were provoked by Azerbaijan. Ambassador Armen Papikyan drew Mr Rau's attention to the plight of the Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan as well as to the problem of violent disappearances, which has not so far been solved because of violations of the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, and of commitments under international humanitarian law. Mr Papikyan urged the OSCE Chairman-in-Office and the OSCE Co-Chairs to take effective measures to put an end to Azerbaijan's provocations and revitalize the peace process. He stressed that use of force in the OSCE region cannot settle any conflict, and Azerbaijan using force as a legitimate instrument for settling the conflict poses a threat to security in the OSCE region, discrediting international organizations dealing with conflicts.
Mr Papikyan urged the Polish OSCE Chairman-in-Office to focus on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and expressed hope that Poland's chairmanship, in contact with the other international partners, will use effective instruments to send a clear signal to Azerbaijan that further use of force is unacceptable and entails consequences.
"Azerbaijan must put an immediate end to its provocations, withdraw its forces from Armenia's sovereign territory and de-escalate the tension both on its border with Armenia and along the line of contact with Artsakh, and honor its commitments," Mr Papikyan said.