OSCE report to have positive influence on peace process – Armenian minister
Arminfo
21 Mar 05
Yerevan, 21 March: The OSCE factfinding mission’s report on the
liberated territories will have a positive influence on the peaceful
settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan has said in an interview with Armenian Public TV.
He said that owing to the activities of the OSCE mission, Azerbaijan’s
arguments remained unconsidered. At the same time, it became obvious
that the problem of refugees is a mutual issue, however, Azerbaijan has
always stated that there is only the problem of Azerbaijani refugees.
Actually, the OSCE mission proved that despite the insignificant
number of people on these territories, most of them are Armenian
refugees from Azerbaijan.
All this allowed Armenia to demand a similar mission in the territories
they were ousted from – Shaumyan District, northern Mardakert and
eastern Martuni. This issue is becoming pressing and will militate
against Azerbaijan. However, this problem will not hinder the
negotiations, the Armenian foreign minister said.
Everything will depend on Azerbaijan’s further steps since it has
realized very well that there is the problem of Armenian refugees.
Azerbaijan tried to raise this problem with the UN, but failed and
then an OSCE mission was invited and here is the outcome. Everything
will depend on how Azerbaijan is trying to politically speculate
on all these issues. Armenia’s position on this matter is obvious,
if the issue goes to the UN, Azerbaijan will deal not with Armenia,
but with Nagornyy Karabakh, Oskanyan thinks.
[Passage omitted: Other details]