HOW EFFECTIVE WILL THE OSCE MINSK GROUP ASSESSMENT MISSION PROVE?
Karine Ter-Sahakyan
PanARMENIAN.Net
October 12, 2010
The main task of the mission is to explain the OSCE, UN and all the
parties interested in regulation of the Karabakh conflict the actual
situation in the liberated territories.
The OSCE Minsk Group assessment mission came to an end: the mediators
did what they had promised; the parties, or rather, the Azerbaijani
side resisted the temptation of making yet another provocation,
knowing full well that on the site the co-chairs would immediately
find out who was really guilty. Indeed, it’s one thing to accuse the
Armenians of “violating the ceasefire regime”, and quite another to
answer for the death of a common shepherd.
As always, before the Co-Chairs’ visit Baku “surprised” the whole
world. But if previously her actions were limited to just playing on
nerves, last time the Aliyev clan clearly went too far. It was only
the U.S. that was indifferent to the murder of Manvel Saribekian,
remaining true to her unending pragmatism, which has been recently
turning against America itself, no matter how hard they try to make us
believe the contrary. The OSCE is usually reserved in her assessment
of events, but this time it could not bear such barbarism. At a press
briefing in Stepanakert, Russian co-chairman Igor Popov said he “was
shocked to hear about Armenian shepherd Manvel Saribekian killed in
the Azeri captivity”. He expressed his condolences to Saribekian’s
relatives and noted that this fact should be carefully examined, with
participation of international organizations, the ICRC in particular.
In fact, nothing has changed in the consciousness of Azerbaijani
Turkic nomads since the murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan.
The same barbarism, the same attitude towards the enemy and, as a
consequence, the ideology of hatred that is already bearing fruit.
Azerbaijan has brought up a generation for whom the word “Armenian”
causes nothing but primitive instincts of destruction. And under these
circumstances the OSCE field assessment mission means nothing but
making semblance of activity. However, to blame the co-chairs would be
wrong. “I want you to understand that we are mediators, and, as such,
we work independently. And since we are mediators, we are not trying
to do anything in favor of one party or another. What we are seeking
is achievement of peace,” said Bernard Fassier, mediator of France.
But even if this is true, nothing depends on the views of the OSCE
Minsk Group. Baku killed the captives, organized provocations at the
border, and will continue doing so. And even Turkey cannot stop her,
because of civilizational identity.
In any case, it would be wrong to speak of the failure of the
assessment mission. After all, the Armenian side gained some
advantages from it: the mediators themselves saw what was happening
in the liberated territories. And if they really dare to inspect the
Nagorno-Karabakh territories occupied by Azerbaijan, one can say that
the mission is complete. Although it is inevitable that Baku should
be raising obstacles to it.
The main task of the mission is to explain the OSCE, UN and all the
parties interested in regulation of the Karabakh conflict the actual
situation in the liberated territories, namely that there are no camps
of militants, transit of narcotics and sales of illegal arms there.
And the question is whether the mediators will be able to answer
these questions honestly, or in order to please various interests
of the parties they will, as always, limit themselves to vague and
incomprehensible statements. Armenia has nothing to fear about, but it
would be too difficult for Azerbaijan to justify herself for the lies
and nonsense. However… it doesn’t seem to be the first time for Baku.
From: A. Papazian