ArmInfo.The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group should take tougher measures both on the issue of visiting Nagorno-Karabakh and on the final settlement of the conflict, since they are endowed with an appropriate international mandate. Artsakh State Minister Artak Beglaryan expressed a similar opinion at a press conference in Stepanakert on January 18, referring to the disrespectful attitude of the Azerbaijani President towards the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, including during the last interview.
"Such behavior of the President of Azerbaijan, I believe, is primarily due to the behavior of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs themselves, who are silent. This is not the first time that Aliyev not only makes statements about blocking their activities, but also ridicules the activities of intermediaries, and even humiliates them", Beglaryan said, recalling that this happened for the first time after the 2020 war.
At the same time, the State Minister believes that since the mediators endure such humiliation and keep silent, Azerbaijan is gradually becoming more impudent.
"The co-chairs should already speak from the position of an arbitrator, and not as conciliators, or mediators solving exclusively technical issues. Even if Azerbaijan says that the conflict has been resolved, everyone understands that it has not been resolved, moreover, it is in a more difficult situation", the official added, recalling that all co-chair countries accept and themselves declare that the Karabakh conflict has not been resolved.
Therefore, he continued, if Azerbaijan does not want to deal with any international mediator in resolving this conflict, the international community must take unilateral decisions and actions.
According to the official, after Aliyev's mockery of the co-chairs, these countries should, without taking into account the opinion of Azerbaijan, not only visit Artsakh, but also recognize, if not independence, then at least the fact of the realization of the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination, especially after the war, because that as a result of the war, all the main issues under discussion are either resolved or violated, except for the right to self-determination. "And the more they adhere to a cowardly policy, the more Azerbaijan will become insolent," the State Minister of Artsakh stressed. To clarify whether the Artsakh authorities maintain contacts with any international bodies, Beglaryan noted that Artsakh has certain direct contacts with some representatives of international organizations, but often these are not official contacts.
"We can convey our opinion in this way, however, the main contacts take place through the RA. In particular, the diplomatic corps", the State Minister noted, confirming that after the war, the international isolation of Artsakh increased.
"Azerbaijan is making every effort to this end. Until now, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs have not visited Nagorno-Karabakh, this is "thanks" to Azerbaijan. The same situation with UNESCO, UNHCR HC, CoE Commissioner for Human Rights. That is, this applies to all those who declared their readiness to visit Artsakh, even indicated the dates, but never arrived. The reason is blocking by Azerbaijan. It is regrettable that international organizations are subject to the illegal inhuman steps of Azerbaijan, especially since their functions include the protection of human rights and the solution of humanitarian issues. Human rights must prevail. International organizations should be bolder. My experience as an ombudsman speaks of a lack of courage on their part," he concluded.