MP: TURKEY’S INCLUSION IN OSCE MINSK GROUP PROPOSED DUE TO NECESSITY
Today
May 2 2010
Azerbaijan
Turkey’s inclusion in the OSCE Minsk Group was proposed because there
was the need, member of the political council of Azerbaijani ruling
party said.
"Turkey has very important influence in the region. Co-chairmanship of
this country in the OSCE Minsk Group is discussed periodically since
the establishment of an institute of co-chairmen," political council
member, deputy chairman of the Committee on Security and Defence of
the Azerbaijani parliament Aydin Mirzazade told the website of New
Azerbaijan Party.
He said that according to the procedural rules, a staff of co-chairmen
must be coordinated with Azerbaijani and Armenian sides.
"Armenia’s anti-Turkish position hampers the inclusion of a brotherly
country in a staff of Co-Chairmen. But Turkey actively participates
in the process though unofficially. It is impossible to exclude the
Turkish factor in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem,"
MP said.
MP said that Turkey’s position in connection with the conflict is
the center of Azerbaijani society’s attention. "Co-chairmanship was
raised because of the need and desire for a rapid solving of the
problem. But on the other hand, Turkey participates in this process,
regardless of whether it is co-chairman or not. At the same time, the
main aim is not only the co-chairmanship of Turkey, but also resolving
of the conflict as a whole", deputy chairman of the committee said.
Azerbaijani society encourages the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen to
show activity and objectively assess the seriousness of the problem.
"Unfortunately, except for the last few years, more than 10 years
co-chairmen have demonstrated formal operation. We wasted time. But
the time has come to solve this problem. Co-chairmen must carry out
their tasks. Armenia should be called on to respect international
legal norms," member of political council said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.
The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s resolutions
on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the occupied
territories.