FM Edward Nalbandian, who is in the United Kingdom on an official visit, talked of the continuing conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh in a Tuesday speech at the University of Oxford.
Armeniaթ§Չ-Չ§s top diplomat has comprehensively introduced the topic, emphasizing particularly Azerbaijanթ§Չ-Չ§s unwillingness to accept the basic principles of settlement. He said the Azerbaijani authorities continue the arms race on the level of the countryթ§Չ-Չ§s top leadership.
According to a press release by the Foreign Ministry, Nalbandian first briefed the participants on the Armenia-UK relations and the goals of his visit to the country. He also addressed priorities of Armeniaթ§Չ-Չ§s presidency of the Council of Europe, the integration processes on the post-Soviet territory, Armeniaթ§Չ-Չ§s cooperation with Europe and other issues on the international and regional agendas.
Speaking of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the minister particularly said, թ§Չ-ժIn September 1991, Nagorno-Karabakh adopted a declaration of independence, which was approved at a December universal referendum. It was fully in line with the then USSRթ§Չ-Չ§s effective legislation. It is worth, in this connection, mentioning the European Parliamentթ§Չ-Չ§s resolution which said Nagorno-Karabakh declared independence under a declaration similar to those [adopted] by the other [Soviet] republics, including Azerbaijan. In response, Baku perpetrated a massacre and ethnic cleansing against the Armenians, unleashing an extensive war against Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia with the help of hired servicemen linked to international terrorist organizations.
թ§Չ-ժIn 1993, before the signing of ceasefire, the UN Security Council adopted four resolutions (822, 853, 874, 884), where a key demand was to suspend the military operations and establish a long-lasting armistice. Azerbaijan refused թ§Չ-Չ after the adoption of each resolution թ§Չ-Չ to meet the basic requirement, and persistently continued the military operations.
թ§Չ-ժIn 1994, a Russian-mediated ceasefire accord was reached between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan, with Armenia also joining the deal. In February 1995, the new armistice strengthening agreement was signed between Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh, and Armenia again acceded [to the process]. But Azerbaijan has not so far shown any respect for the agreement.
թ§Չ-ժSince 1997, the negotiation process has been going on in the frameworks of a mediation mission composed of the OSCE Minsk Groupթ§Չ-Չ§s three co-chairing countries: Russia, US and France.
թ§Չ-ժThe co-chairing states, which are vested with a mediation mandate in the Karabakh conflict settlement, make considerable efforts in two main directions: elaboration of fundamental conflict settlement principles and initiation of confidence strengthening measures.
թ§Չ-ժIn the frameworks of the OSCE ministerial conference held in November 2007, the mediators proposed to the parties the basic principles for settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict (better known as the Madrid proposals).
թ§Չ-ժAzerbaijan rejected the document for around a year, seeking a solution in other instances. Particularly, in 2008, Azerbaijan submitted to the UN General Assembly a resolution which reflected the Azerbaijani distorted position on the problem. The resolution was passed, with only 39 of the 192 UN member states voting in favor (basically the Islamic Conference member countries). The three co-chairing countries թ§Չ-Չ the US, Russia and France թ§Չ-Չ voted against, while none of the EU member states, including the United Kingdom, supported the resolution.
թ§Չ-ժThe co-chairing countriesթ§Չ-Չ§ leaders adopted resolutions in Lթ§Չ-Չ§Aquila (2009) and Muskoka (2010), unveiling the basic principles and elements proposing their solutions to the problem. In the statements adopted in Deauville (2011) and Los Cabos (2012), the heads of the co-chairing states reiterated their previous remarks, highlighting the importance of an exclusively peaceful settlement of the conflict.
“Statements on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement were adopted at the OSCE ministerial conference in Helsinki (2008), Athens (2010), Almaty (2011), Vilnius (2012) and Dublin, and at the OSCE summit in Astana (2010).
թ§Չ-ժArmenia has hailed all the above-mentioned statements, expressing willingness to reach a settlement based upon the proposals reflected in the statements
թ§Չ-ժUnlike Armenia, Azerbaijan has not so far accepted the basic principles and elements as a whole integrity. Instead of accepting the proposals, Baku is making primitive attempts to refer only to the status quo unacceptability wording. If Azerbaijan is really against maintaining the status quo, it should have long ago adopted statements by the three co-chairs.
թ§Չ-ժThe president of the Russian Federation has organized 11 meetings with the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents since 2008 in order to coordinate the settlement principles. Updated options of the basic principles were introduced and discussed at the meetings.
թ§Չ-ժAt the latest summit in Kazan (June 2011), as well as the meetings in Sochi (March 2011), Astrakhan (October 2011), St. Petersburg (June 2010) etc, Baku rejected all the settlement principle proposed by the Minsk Group co-chairs.
թ§Չ-ժThe Azerbaijani side pretends to have adopted the option tabled in 2009, by naming it an updated version. It may look as though the other options are outdated. But it is necessary to note that Azerbaijan has certain reservations and changes with regard to even the 2009 option.
թ§Չ-ժBaku has rejected not only the proposals on settlement principles but also the confidence strengthening measures թ§Չ-Չ particularly, strengthening of ceasefire, withdrawal of snipers from the Line of Contact and elaboration of mechanisms for probes into the ceasefire violations – proposed by the international community and enjoying its full support.
թ§Չ-ժAzerbaijan not only refuses to accept the confidence strengthening measures, but also provokes tensions on the Line of Contact with Karabakh and the Armenian border, exacerbating the situation and leading to new human losses.
թ§Չ-ժDespite the co-chairsթ§Չ-Չ§ continuing calls to prepare their countriesթ§Չ-Չ§ population for peace instead of war, the Azerbaijani authorities continue – on the highest level -թԹ the arms race, the war threats, the belligerent statements and the xenophobia rhetoric breeding hatred. The most cynical provocation that we saw in August was the release of Ramil Safarov, the man killer, after the extradition from Hungary, and his glorification as a hero.
թ§Չ-ժIt was quite recently that the Azerbaijani state subjected writer Akram Aylisli to torture just because he had addressed the Azerbaijani pogroms against the Armenians in his novel. Aylisliթ§Չ-Չ§s books were burned in public. A state award was promised to anyone who would agree to cut his ear. The writer was forced to seek asylum beyond the borders of Azerbaijan.
թ§Չ-ժDespite Azerbaijanթ§Չ-Չ§s provocative and non-constructive policies, Armenia will continue – together with the world community – its efforts towards reaching an exclusively peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict.թ§Չ-Թ
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