AZERBAIJANI PARLIAMENT VICE-SPEAKER: “WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY STEP IN THE OSCE MINSK GROUP’S ACTIVITY THAT CAN BE REGARDED AS A PROGRESS”
APA, Azerbaijan
Dec 26 2013
[ 26 December 2013 17:32 ]
“Proposals to include other countries in the Minsk Group
co-chairmanship will return the process to zero”
Baku. Ramiz Mikayiloghlu – APA. Vice-Speaker of the Azerbaijani
Parliament, Head of the Azerbaijani Delegation to the OSCE
Parliamentary Assembly Bahar Muradova has commented on the activity
of the OSCE Minsk Group in 2013, APA reports.
Bahar Muradova told journalists that the activity of the OSCE Minsk
Group should be assessed basing on the results of the steps taken
towards the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
She said that Azerbaijan has always been concerned over and criticized
the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group: “But in general, this year,
the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group paid a number of visits to
the region, held meetings, conducted monitoring in the occupied
territories and presented reports on the observance of ceasefire
regime. Unfortunately, the concrete results of this activity were not
reflected in the negotiation process. We have not seen any step that
can be regarded as a progress.”
Vice-speaker regarded as positive the continuation of the negotiations
between the presidents.
“But our discontent will be continued until Armenian troops leave
our territories,” she said.
Bahar Muradova said views were always expressed on changing the format
of OSCE Minsk Group.
“This is natural. As long as there are no results, negotiations are
protracted, the conflict deepens, people’s hopes decrease. Therefore,
such views are expressed. But OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries
are the leading figures of the world policy and have serious levers of
influence on Armenia. One should wait for the co-chairing countries
to enhance their activity within the current format and demonstrate
their desires to achieve real results. Proposals to replace these
countries, include other countries in the Minsk Group co-chairmanship
will return the process to zero,” she said.