OSCE PLANS FRONTLINE MONITORING DUE TO CEASEFIRE BREACHES
AzerNews Weekly
Nov 19 2008
Azerbaijan
The OSCE mediators brokering a settlement to the Upper (Nagorno)
Garabagh conflict believe the situation on the Armenia-Azerbaijan
frontline remains tense and plan to monitor the area for ceasefire
violations.
"The ceasefire violations have become regular during the past few days
and necessitates holding an urgent crisis monitoring," Matthew Bryza,
the US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group (MG) said.
Bryza told a Monday news conference in Yerevan, which reviewed the
group`s visit to the region, that continuing ceasefire violations
were alarming and clarification of what is occurring is necessary.
Andrjej Caspzyk, the OSCE chairman`s special envoy, did not rule out
that this monitoring would begin within days.
Caspzyk recently told the press that during the past year 25 people
have been killed on the frontline between Azerbaijani and Armenian
troops as a result of ceasefire violations. He did not specify which
side was responsible for the clashes.
Armenia and Azerbaijan waged a war over the mountainous region
in the early 1990s, which claimed some 30,000 lives and displaced
about one million Azerbaijanis. Armenia has been occupying over 20%
of Azerbaijan`s internationally-recognized territory since then. The
ceasefire accord was signed in 1994, but Armenian armed forces have
been repeatedly breaching the ceasefire along the frontline.
The purpose of the co-chairs` visit to the region was to discuss with
the parties those issues stemming from the November 2 declaration
and to map out further steps toward reaching a solution to the
long-running dispute.
The mediators met with President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov last Thursday. Upon completing talks in Baku,
they left for the Armenian capital Yerevan, followed by their visit
to Upper Garabagh on Saturday. On Monday, the diplomats again headed
to Yerevan where they met with President Serzh Sarkisian.
Bryza said the co-chairs` visit to the region was successful and
constructive, adding that the environment of "mutual understanding and
mutual respect" was increasing between Presidents Aliyev and Sarkisian.
The diplomat said a positive atmosphere was emerging, which the
co-chairs should capitalize upon. He added that the key objective now
was to avoid factors that could potentially harm the road covered in
the peace process so far and derail efforts aimed at easing tension
in the relations between Baku and Yerevan.
Timing of ministerial set A date has been set for the next meeting
between the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers to discuss
the Garabagh settlement. Elmar Mammadyarov and Eduard Nalbandian will
hold talks on the eve of the OSCE Foreign Ministers Council meeting,
to take place in Helsinki December 4-5, the Russian co-chair, Yury
Merzlyakov, announced.
Merzlyakov said the mediators hoped they would also be able to arrange
a meeting between the two countries` leaders, but the venue and timing
of the presidential talks were unknown at this point.
He emphasized that "no one was trying to artificially prolong" the
process of resolving the Garabagh conflict. He expressed disappointment
that the dispute has remained unresolved since Azerbaijan and Armenia
signed a ceasefire accord in 1994.
"But I am hopeful that we will now be able to reach the goal that
hasn`t been accomplished over 14 years," he said, adding that the
negotiating process would be accelerated while avoiding hastiness.
Regarding the outcome of the mediators` talks with the leader of the
self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh republic, Bako Saakian, Merzlyakov
said that without the participation of the Armenian community of the
region it would be impossible to set the stage for a settlement to
the conflict.
Also, French co-chairman Bernard Fassier, said the Upper Garabagh
regime was not estranged from peace talks. Armenian media quoted
Fassier as saying that in the current course of negotiations the
self-proclaimed republic was contributing to efforts aimed at reaching
a solution.
"At times, people think that Upper Garabagh has been alienated from the
process. What does this mean? The reasons for our frequent visits here
are not just to try the highly-appreciated Garabagh cuisine or drink
mulberry vodka. We come here to work with your leadership," Fassier
told reporters in Khankandi, the center of the occupied republic.
Territorial integrity The US co-chair has refuted his earlier statement
that Armenia must return Azerbaijan`s territories.
During a news conference in Yerevan, Matthew Bryza did not refrain
from using degrading rhetoric against the Azerbaijani media.
"The media in Azerbaijan interprets everything in a one-sided manner,
whether it is politics or agriculture.
"I don`t remember what language my interview was in – Russian
or English. But my words were translated at least twice, or
re-translated," Bryza said.
According to Bryza, the status of Upper Garabagh cannot be determined
unilaterally and the positions of both parties to the conflict should
be taken into account in dealing with the issue.
"It is possible that a vote will take place in Garabagh at some point,
but it may never happen – I just don`t know. The presidents have to
come to an agreement on the matter. As a co-chair, I can`t dictate
when this will happen and on what conditions," Bryza said.
As for the possible stationing of Russian peacekeepers in the conflict
zone, the US diplomat said this was unlikely.
"Neither side currently wants this. On the other hand, the following
principle has always been in place: if peacekeepers are stationed in
the region, they cannot be pulled in from co-chairing or neighboring
countries."